Griffith University’s multi-award winning Griffith English Language Institute (GELI) has beaten 200 IDP test centres globally to be named the very best in the world.

At the recent international IELTS* conference in Hong Kong, Griffith received top honours by taking out the prestigious Performance Excellence Award for its commitment to quality English language testing.

“Each year, IELTS Australia hosts a conference for their global network of more than 200 IELTS test centres worldwide, acknowledging the best in each category with an award,” said Pamela Humphreys, Deputy Director of the Griffith English Language Institute.

“It’s like the Oscars except that the nominations aren’t known until each award is announced,” Ms Humphreys said.

“The IDP’s Performance Excellence Award is like the Best Picture Award — it’s the final and most prestigious of all — and I could hardly believe it when they announced we had won,” she said.

The award recognises Griffith’s commitment to quality and distinction in all aspects of test delivery, and is an acknowledgement of the test centre’s sustained commitment to quality, integrity and customer service.

“I am so proud of the team — this award is due to their hard work and dedication over many years,” Ms Humphreys said.

In addition, Griffith University received another excellence award last year in relation to supporting students with English as an additional language — taking out the IEAA’s** Best Practice/Innovation in International Education for the Griffith English Language Enhancement Strategy.

This national award for leadership and innovation in excellence recognises the outstanding work of the institute and its groundbreaking developments in international education.

“My colleagues and I are passionate about enhancing academic English language proficiency and it really is a great honour to be rewarded for our efforts,” Ms Humphreys said.

Since opening in 2006, the Griffith IELTS test centre has used the internationally recognised IELTS test to measure the English language proficiency of thousands of people in Queensland.

Conveniently located on the busway at Griffith’s Mount Gravatt campus, the test is available to anyone who needs an English language proficiency test.

IELTS is the most utilised, high stakes, English language proficiency test used in Australia and in many other countries in the world, with more than two million people taking the test every year.

In Australia, IELTS is taken for three main reasons:

1. For evidence of language proficiency to gain entry to academic study

2. For migration requirements for and visa applications to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP)

3. For professional registration (engineers, nurses, teachers, etc).

Students take the IELTS test before they commence study and Griffith students have an opportunity to sit the test at the point of graduation via the subsidised test initiative IELTS4grads.

IELTS can be booked online through the multi-award winning Griffith English Language Institute(GELI).

*IELTS — International English Language Testing System

**IEAA — International Education Association of Australia