The inaugural Australian Advisory Board of the Duolingo English Test (DET) recently convened to set the course for organisations growth and adoption in Australia. Comprising esteemed experts from the education sector, the board’s mission is to provide guidance to DET on emerging trends and best practices in English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) within Australia to ensure the DET addresses the sector’s needs. Their collective insight is instrumental in ensuring that DET maintains its position as a pioneering force in English proficiency assessment.
Among the distinguished members of the advisory board are:
- Olivier Charpenay, Director, UWA College
- Jennifer Coster, Director English, Monash College
- Cara Dinneen, Education Manager, Macquarie University College
- Aparna Jacob, Director of Studies, Academic English Pathways, UNSW College
- Chris Jones, Director, English & Testing, Navitas
- Sophie O’Keefe, Head of Professional Development, English Australia
- John Smith, Assistant Director of Studies, Griffith English Language Institute
- Julian Wilson, College Director, UQ College
Brett Blacker, the Managing Director of Duolingo in Australia and New Zealand, and former CEO of English Australia, brings extensive experience to the table. He emphasised the board’s alignment with Duolingo’s ethos of addressing evolving needs and fostering innovation in English language testing.
As the world’s largest edtech company, Duolingo’s entry into the Australian market is significant. The Duolingo English Test (DET) is an adaptive online assessment, adjusting question difficulty based on the test-taker’s performance. Offering unmatched convenience and security, it can be completed in under an hour from any internet-connected location, with results typically available within 48 hours. Blacker noted, the “human in the loop” proctoring supported by advanced AI, the DET ensures both integrity and adaptability.
Introduced in 2016, the DET has gained widespread acceptance, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, due to its internet-based format. Its agility in adapting to modern educational needs has made it a preferred choice for universities worldwide, marking a shift towards technology-driven evaluation methods. Over 5,000 university admissions offices, including prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Yale, and the University of Toronto utilise the DET for assessing English proficiency. Universities in the UK, such as the London School of Economics, Imperial College London, Kingston University, University of Southampton, and Middlesex University, also recognise and accept the Duolingo test.
Reflecting on Duolingo’s entry into the Australian market, Blacker noted that Duolingo is working on gaining Australian government acceptance for visa purposes, however, he expressed optimism and cited the overwhelmingly positive response from institutions across the sector and a willingness to accept the DET where possible. “With its reputation for offering a secure online test that institutions can easily validate, Duolingo sees vast potential for expansion in Australia. Interest from educational institutions continues to grow, indicating a promising future for Duolingo in the region.
As Duolingo charts its course in the Australian market, The Koala extends its best wishes for success in establishing itself as a trusted resource for English language assessment.
