ACCA e-Marketing Contract

RNS Number : 0565T

RM PLC

01 June 2009

 

                                                                                                                                              1 June 2009

RM enters strategic outsourcing partnership with ACCA

RM has been awarded a contract to provide an outsourced e-Marking solution to ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants). The five-year agreement, which will ultimately result in all of ACCA's accountancy and finance qualifications being marked automatically or on screen, is expected to be worth up to £9m to RM.

The solution, which has been designed to meet ACCA's specific requirements, is built around RM's innovative scoris® e-Marking system. It includes scanning and electronic distribution of written examination papers, a sophisticated computer-based marking application for ACCA's examiners, automatic marking of multiple-choice examinations, and electronic return of marks, all controlled by a sophisticated workflow system.

Terry Sweeney, Chief Executive of RM, said:

'Working with one of the world's leading providers of professional qualifications is a great opportunity for RM Assessment. We are looking forward to helping ACCA provide an even better service for their students.

'This partnership with the ACCA is a significant development for our e-Marking business. Over the last five years, RM Assessment has developed world-class expertise in e-Marking services. This agreement shows that the solutions that we provide are as relevant to providers of professional qualifications as they are to school examination boards.'

Clare Minchington, Executive Director - Learning & Customer Service at ACCA, said: 

'We are delighted to be working with RM on this new venture. We believe that this contract will enable ACCA to continue to provide the level of quality of service to its growing global student population. Some of the immediate benefits include: access to an international pool of markers to better reflect the global nature of ACCA; a significant reduction in our carbon footprint due to the reduction in freight as well as a considerable reduction in the level of risk faced during transportation of exam scripts.'

For further information, please contact: 

Mike Greig/Phil Hemmings, RM plc	08450 700300
Chris Blundell, Brunswick	020 7404 5959

Notes:

1.      The RM Group is a leading provider of educational solutions that help teachers to teach and learners to learn. RM works closely with educationalists to create new products, processes and technology which improve education. RM is listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange under the symbol RM.L, ISIN GB0002870417. Further details are available at ww.rm.com/investors and through the Group’s investor blog at rminvestors.wordpress.com

2.      ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global body for professional accountants. It aims to offer business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management. ACCA supports 131,500 members and 362,000 students throughout their careers, providing services through a network of 80 offices and centres. Its global infrastructure means that exams and support are delivered – and reputation and influence developed – at a local level, directly benefiting stakeholders wherever they are based, or plan to move to, in pursuit of new career opportunities.

3.      scoris is a comprehensive e-Marking system, catering for all forms of assessment, from physical paper scripts to computer-generated tests. For individual markers, scoris presents a secure online environment in which they can receive, view and mark exam scripts on their own personal computers. For qualification providers, it provides a sophisticated workflow system, which controls the process of allocating exam scripts to markers, collecting marks and monitoring the quality & consistency of markers’ work.

 

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