May 23, 2022
English Skill Test Approved for Irish Qualification
T The Irish government has approved the Scottish Qualifications Authority’s and the PSI’s B1 and B2 Four Facet Skills for English language tests for student visa application. Students applying for a visa for studies in Ireland will now have to pass the Skills for English: SELT or Skills for English: Global tests to complete visa applications.
Government sources say that the legislation will give part-time work rights to students who are successful in the student visa application to Ireland, helping them expand their portfolio. Through the legislation, students will have access to one of the world’s top destination markets globally for English language.
There are currently around 32k international students in Irish universities; we aim to help as high a proportion as possible over the coming months and years, said a member of Skill Test. Janet Garcia the PSI president further added, “Being accepted for study visa purposes in Ireland is a key strategic pillar for Skills for English.”
…the Irish government joins the UK government in recognising the quality of the assessment on offer and gives higher and further education institutions confidence that their applicants have the necessary English language skills and knowledge to succeed in the next stage of their education…
The English skill test approval comes just when Ireland's international student recruitment community has risen to 26% in the last three years. Speaking to the press, a representative of PSI said, “The key for us is candidate choice – having the SELT contract with UKVI meant we already had a network of highly secure and trusted test centres; together with SQA, we were able to quickly develop SfE: Global by using the same academic infrastructure and assurance that SQA awarded our SELT qualifications while leveraging PSI’s industry-leading online proctoring solution.”
John McMorris of the Scottish Qualification Authority was quoted as saying, “The Irish government joins the UK government in recognising the quality of the assessment on offer and gives higher and further education institutions confidence that their applicants have the necessary English language skills and knowledge to succeed in the next stage of their education.” He also commended the successful relationship” between the authority and PSI, and termed the union a “significant development”.
A stakeholder in Irish education added that recognition of Skills for English by the Irish government will greatly benefit thousands of students over the coming years.
Posted in News and tagged News, Education in Ireland, PSI, Scottish Qualification Authority, Skills for English
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