FutureLearn turns to Pearson VUE to deliver testing facilities for its 1 million users
LONDON, UK, May 8, 2015 – Social learning platform FutureLearn has signed a new agreement with Pearson VUE to offer its growing global community of learners – currently exceeding 1 million – new opportunities to pursue certifications from online courses.
FutureLearn’s plans to enable a greater number of people to earn its Statements of Attainment through exams will be delivered through Pearson VUE’s global network of secure test centres. These will provide FutureLearn’s virtual learning community with a local exam solution for specific courses.
Upcoming FutureLearn courses set to offer exams in Pearson VUE facilities include ‘The Secret Power of Brands’, from the University of East Anglia, and two others from the University of Strathclyde: ‘Caring for Vulnerable Children’, and ‘Introduction to Forensic Science’.
Simon Nelson, CEO of FutureLearn, said: “More and more of our learners, particularly those on career-enhancing courses, want to take exams to demonstrate their mastery of a subject. Working with Pearson VUE will help us deliver a robust testing solution for learners wishing to take exams as part of their experience with FutureLearn – one that is convenient, containing industry-standard security measures underpinned by integrity, and recognised by employers and education establishments.”
Matthew Poyiadgi, vice president of EMEA at Pearson VUE, said: “FutureLearn’s model offers another route to learning and potentially onto a professional certification pathway, which fits perfectly with our history of delivering important and trusted exams that make a real difference to learners and employers around the world.”
ENDS
For more information:
Damien Fletcher
Tel: +44 20 7775 6785
damien.fletcher@pearson.com
About Pearson VUE
Pearson VUE (www.pearsonvue.com) is the global leader in computer-based testing for high-stakes certification and licensure exams in the healthcare, finance, information technology, academic and admissions markets. We offer a full suite of services to develop, manage, deliver and grow test programmes for over 450 clients via the world’s most comprehensive network of secure test centres in 180 countries, and through online solutions. Pearson VUE owns Certiport, the global leader in foundational IT certification solutions, and is a business of the world’s leading learning company Pearson (NYSE: PSO; LSE: PSON).
About FutureLearn
FutureLearn is a social learning platform based in the UK and providing free, online courses from world-class educators. The partnership consists of higher and specialist education institutions from the UK and around the world, alongside cultural icons like the British Library, British Council and the British Museum. All these offer high quality courses to anyone with an internet connection, anywhere in the world. The FutureLearn course experience centres on social interaction, whereby people learn by engaging in conversations around the learning material. FutureLearn is wholly owned by The Open University (UK), which has over 40 years’ expertise in distance and online learning. For more information, visit www.futurelearn.com.
