About Us

The burgeoning of the Institute into a university with extended mission to education and related areas in health and humanities has necessitated existing research centres to restructure and re-strategize with a much clearer focus in their pursuit of excellence in research. The Centre for Assessment Research and Development (CARD) considers the development of a new structure that carries a more prominent research role strategic and crucial to both the Institute and the Centre in this transition era. Guided by the Institute's Vision and Mission, a new Institute-level research structure, the Assessment Research Centre (ARC) is to be formed that builds on the successful track record of its predecessor CARD. Whereas CARD has a strong inclination towards teacher development and professional services in assessment for learning, the ARC places premium on taking leadership role in cutting-edge assessment research. The R&D philosophy of the ARC is underpinned by a concept of excellence that integrates research, scholarship, and services to the community that has implications for education and beyond.

After the formation of ARC, CARD will be the self-funding arm focussing on teacher development work. In 2009-2010, it will focus on completing the current self-funding/ commissioned projects. It is expected that it will complete its mission by end of 2010. Between now and end of 2010, the structure of CARD will remain intact. From Jan 2011 (or end of 2010) onwards, self-funding projects of ARC will be kept at a minimum. Such projects will be undertaken only for strategic reasons. CARD is to be renamed Objective Assessment Services International (OASI) to highlight its role on the provision of assessment services for an international audience.