(MENAFN- Arab News) The Petroleum Institute University and Research Centre recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the British Council (BC) to make the university an accredited place to hold the IELTS test. The agreement has taken effect in September.
The aim is to provide students at the university with the convenience of applying for the IELTS test within the Petroleum Institute (PI) campus in Abu Dhabi.
The PI has a goal of becoming a world-class institution in both engineering education and energy industry research.
The institution currently has over 1900 undergraduate and graduate students over 200 faculty members and has quickly become a major teaching and research institution in the Middle East region.
PI President Thomas Hochstettler and BC's UAE Country Director Marc Jessel signed the MoU at the institute's headquarters in the presence of PI and the BC UAE representatives.
Hochstettler said: 'The MoU which marks a significant milestone for us at the PI will most assuredly facilitate the development of our students as productive articulate contributors to the culture and prosperity of the nation. We welcome this opportunity to partner with the BC for our mutual benefit in the future.'
Murray R. Gray PI's SVP academics and provost said: 'The PI is committed to preparing its graduates for service to the UAE and for international success. This MoU will enable us to integrate language teaching with testing in a seamless way to give our students the best launch possible for their academic careers.'
Muna Balfaqeeh director of Academic Bridge program said: 'I am very proud that the BC will make the PI a certified venue for language testing.'
Jessel said: 'The BC is honored to have signed this partnership with the PI that will provide students from the university with the internationally recognized and accepted IELTS qualification.'