News

Mexican university adopts Cambridge English standards

07 March 2011

The Universidad Contemporánea (UCO) in Querétaro Mexico is integrating Cambridge ESOL's Business English Certificates (BEC) into its business programmes as part of a drive to set minimum standards of language ability for future graduates. The adoption will mean that from 2011, those studying subjects such as business, marketing, accounting and finance will have to sit an internationally recognised BEC qualification. UCO students reaching B1 and B2 English levels of the Common European Framework on the 5th and 8th semesters taking either BEC Preliminary or BEC Vantage starting in 2011.

Cambridge ESOL's Joanna Raskin, Regional Development Manager for Cambridge ESOL in the Americas, welcomes the project:

“This is an excellent initiative by the university that will ensure that an accurate English language benchmark is set for all business graduates. It will give successful business students the chance to gain an English certificate that is recognised by employers all over the world which is good news for them and industry as a whole.”

The initiative is part of the UCO TALENT programme aimed at preparing graduates for life after graduation. Cambridge says the project reflects the enormous effort being made throughout Mexico to improve English language ability in education and the workplace. In January 2011, 25 more Mexican organisations joined the list of 11,000 employers, universities and government bodies around the world who recognise Cambridge English tests - a trend which Raskin says is “very encouraging”.