National Center for Assessment (Qiyas) celebrates strategic partnership with Pearson VUE

H.E. Dr. Faisal Abdullah Al-Saud, CEO of the National Center for Assessment (Qiyas), has met executives from international computer-based testing company Pearson VUE to celebrate their expanding strategic partnership.

He was joined at a special ceremony at the Qiyas headquarters in Riyadh by Pearson VUE executives Gary Gates, senior vice president of global growth; Matthew Poyiadgi, vice president Europe, Middle East and Africa; Kaied Shawish, business development director; and Raed Rajeh, market development manager.

Qiyas delivers university admission and other specialized exams across Saudi Arabia, with a network of 30 local test centers and a target of reaching 60 centers by the end of 2016. It also has the largest Pearson VUE authorized test centre in the world, with 180 seats. Pearson VUE delivers more than 25 different exam titles for Qiyas.

“The continuity of joint work with Pearson VUE allows us to further develop and expand our relationship in order to achieve the maximum value from Qiyas Testing systems by using Pearson VUE technology and solutions,” said H.E. Dr. Faisal Abdullah Al-Saud.

He added that their plan is to open 100 computer-based testing centers and to deliver 80 percent of its exams via computer-based testing (CBT) throughout the kingdom within the next five years. Qiyas will also benefit from Pearson’s global test center network outside Saudi Arabia to cater for international candidates.

Dr. Gary Gates, senior vice president – global business at Pearson VUE, said: “Our expanding partnership with the National Center for Assessment will continue to improve academic excellence across Saudi Arabia, and I am delighted that Qiyas has demonstrated their confidence in our ability to deliver computer-based tests in a highly secure and consistent environment.”

H.E. Dr. Faisal Abdullah Al-Saud added that Qiyas would be adding more computer based tests similar to the General Aptitude Test for high school students, General Aptitude Test for University Graduates, Standardized Test of English Proficiency (STEP) and others.