NZ technology to help Cambridge students with English exams

Cambridge University started the search for a technology partner more than two years ago. Photo / Thinkstock

Auckland company Intuto and the Waikato Institute of Technology have signed a contract with Cambridge University to provide online tools to help students prepare for exams.

Through their venture Vital English, Intuto and Wintec will develop training solutions for the Cambridge English-for-speakers-of-other-languages (ESOL) tests.

More than 11,000 employers, universities and government bodies use the tests which are taken by 3 million students in 130 countries.

Intuto and Vital English chief executive Richard Warren said it was a big step for the organisations to have formed a partnership with the prestigious university.

He said New Zealand technology companies were well regarded overseas and had a reputation for being easy to work with despite the time differences: "New Zealand technology companies are absolutely considered to have global standards and more and more we are seen as easy to work with. With New Zealanders, if someone says 'Can you make this change?' generally speaking we just do it, and they have it tomorrow morning."

Warren said New Zealand companies were also strong from an academic and educational point of view.

"It's a combination of really strong academic ability plus the ability and the quality of our technology that makes it very appealing."

Cambridge started the search for a technology partner more than two years ago and had people anonymously testing courses from all over the world.

"When Intuto was contacted by Cambridge to discuss working with them we were very excited.

" We knew that Intuto's course tools and the educational expertise of Wintec would be equal to any requirements placed in front of us," Warren said.

"One reason we are seeking to tell this story is so that New Zealand can be reminded occasionally that we are really good at this stuff and we can get these big contracts," Warren said.

Intuto and Wintec received support from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.