BEIJING, March 11 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- ATA Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAI)
('ATA', or the 'Company'), the largest provider of computer-based testing
services in China, today announced that it has signed an agreement of
cooperation with Educational Testing Services (ETS), the world's largest
educational research and assessment organization, whereby ATA will be the
exclusive agent for ETS's Test of English for International Communication
(TOEIC(R)) business in China. This important strategic alliance between ATA
and ETS will provide millions of Chinese English language learners with access
to high quality testing services by leveraging ATA's proven testing technology
and broad distribution reach, and will help establish an authoritative
assessment standards framework for professional English in China.
At a press event held in Beijing today, both parties announced that going
forward ATA will be the exclusive distributor for ETS's TOEIC test in mainland
China, and will operate and market the TOEIC business in the region. The
current TOEIC operations team will migrate to ATA and will continue to carry
on and support the TOEIC business, while the existing TOEIC product and
services team is expected to be expanded and upgraded. Please note that, the
released test schedules and the existing test operations will not be affected
by this adjustment and will remain unchanged.
'China's role in the global economy is increasingly important, with
Chinese companies making significant progress in global business development.
This success has increased the demand for employees with professional English
proficiency at Chinese enterprises and organizations, which in turn is
expanding the need to access English proficiency,' said Dr. Phillip Tabbiner,
Senior Vice president of ETS Global. 'ETS recognizes the value of working
together with local Chinese partners to leverage the resources and expertise
of both companies to provide high-quality assessments to the developing
Chinese market. ETS believes that ATA's competitive advantages in the testing
services industry make it the ideal partner for effectively expanding TOEIC
business in China, increasing the test's recognition by Chinese firms and
institutions and enhancing support of TOEIC clients in China.'
'We are pleased to work with such a prominent global test sponsor, 'said
Mr. Lin Wang, President of ATA.
