Prometric Dubai has been selected as exclusive provider of all regulatory testing by the Institute of Banking (IOB) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the company said in a statement on Wednesday. The contract represents a new channel of cooperation for both organizations, as the partnership will help to shape the future Saudi economy through implementation of high testing standards. The strategic win marks Prometric Dubai's first win in the Middle East and North Africa financial services sector, an area experiencing rapid growth in Saudi Arabia as a result of a booming oil industry. It also represents a new dynamic and flexible operational model for Prometric, since IOB will build and run its own test center, as well as manage all candidate online registrations entirely on its own. In addition to the IOB's new testing facility, which will be operational this month, the computerized exams will be available to candidates at nine Prometric centers located in every major city throughout the Kingdom. Candidates will also benefit from various functions available as part of Prometric's user-friendly, computer-based interface, including the ability to switch in real-time between English and Arabic language content. Jamaan A. Al-Wagdany, director general at the Institute of Banking, said: “As a leader in financial services, the Institute of Banking is committed to building its finance and banking programs to the highest standards. Working in collaboration with Prometric to bring testing to the mainstream will develop a highly qualified talent pool and bring Saudi financial expertise to the forefront of the global economy. IOB selected Prometric as its partner because of its knowledge, expertise and leadership in the testing field, as well as its physical presence in the region.” Michael Brannick, president of Prometric, said, “Prometric is an agile company that presented an a la carte offering, in the form of a new operational model, to meet a client need. IOB is a visionary organization that, through increased accessibility, ease of use and commitment to delivery excellence, is helping to redesign the economy of Saudi Arabia to meet the future needs of the country.” Prometric, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ETS, is the recognized global leader in technology-enabled testing and assessment services and the winner of CLO Magazine's Learning in Practice 2007 Customer Service Award. Its comprehensive suite of services, including test development, test delivery and data management capabilities, allows clients to develop and launch global testing programs as well as accurately measure program results and data. Prometric delivers and administers more than seven million annual tests. __
