New Directions Colombia 2021 proved a resounding success with three days packed with insight and stimulating conversations on new developments in the world of assessment.
More than 450 attendees signed up for the British Council's international three-day, online conference on English evaluation which ran from July 1 – 3 and there was resoundingly positive feedback from across the region and internationally with a 93% satisfaction rating.
Other key data from New Directions 2021
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The conference included a fascinating 40 minute conversation between Andreas Schleicher, education lead at PISA, and the British Council´s Head of Global Assessment, Barry O´Sullivan on the new Foreign Language Assessment initiative which will begin monitoring speaking, reading and listening performance globally in 2025 with significant implications for all countries in the region.
The third New Directions event in the region will be held in Brazil in 2023 although there will be a number of pre-conference events in 2022, incdluing training, round table and other panel events.
What topics were addressed at the conference?
The main theme of New Directions Colombia 2021 conference was Professionalising English assessment in learning systems: sharing practicalities and implications. We explored how institutional, national and even regional systems attempt to professionalise the variety of stakeholders involved in deciding, planning and implementing programmes and the English language assessments with which they work.
The sub-themes of the conference were Language assessment literacy, Assessing productive skills and Operationalising the ESP construct.
