Pearson Education open to expansion opportunities

Updated on: Wednesday, November 24, 2010

To strengthen its presence in the country's fast-growing education sector, diversified entity Pearson Education will explore expansion opportunities, including partnerships.
Pearson Education is part of London-headquartered Pearson Group that owns publishing firm Penguin and business daily The Financial Times.

"We are always talking to people... and look for expanding our services and presence. We are here (in India) for the long term," Pearson Education International's President (Global Strategy and Business Development) Mark Anderson told .

Without divulging specific details, Anderson said that Pearson was open to expansion activities, including partnerships as well as efforts to boost services offered.

Pearson's joint venture with Educomp -- IndiaCan -- focusses on vocational education and skill development. Pearson has also invested in Bangalore-based online tutoring and schools development firm TutorVista.

According to Anderson, 'Pearson Test of English -Academic' that assesses an individual's English language proficiency has elicited tremendous response in India.

"Our main focus is on markets in India, China, Brazil, South Africa and parts of Middle East... We are focussed on offering products and services that would help in improving English (proficiency)," Anderson noted.

The online-test, launched late last year, has already been recognised by over 2,000 academic institutions worldwide including Stanford and the Indian School of Business (ISB).

"There has been a positive response for this test in India. We will work towards further improving the test and take it to the next level...," said Anderson, who is also President (Pearson Language Tests).

With the test, Pearson is targeting school, college and university students as well as professionals, he added.

Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), which conducts GMAT, has also endorsed this test.

Pearson Education open to expansion opportunities

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