2024-01-05
by Pisana Ferrari

“cApStAn at a scale”, Jan Denys, CEO, and Steve Dept, Founding Partner

No comparative surveys without comparable data Twenty-four years ago, cApStAn started developing, testing, fine-tuning and implementing methods to ensure comparability between different language versions of tests and questionnaires. That was our core activity and it still is. Tests and questionnaires are measurement instruments. They measure knowledge, skills, attitudes, trends, or opinions. They link data points …

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2023-12-19
by Pisana Ferrari

The PISA 2022 results are out! cApStAn is proud to have been a part of this important scientific endeavour

December 5 2023 marked the official launch of the PISA 2022 results. PISA is world’s most significant international large-scale education assessment. These results inform education policies and stakeholders across the globe. They allow benchmarking of education systems and enable participants to look at effective teaching practices. They also help identify investments in education that yield …

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2023-12-18
by Pisana Ferrari

“Navigating the Seas of Linguistic Quality: A Chronicle of cApStAn’s 22-Year Odyssey” 

I am Andrea Ferrari, an Italian national, born in Peru. I was exposed to a multicultural environment from early on, living and studying in Canada, Italy, Australia, Greece, and Belgium. I earned a degree in Business Engineering from the Solvay Business School, Brussels, did a stint with a major multinational (Procter & Gamble) but switched …

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2023-12-13
by Pisana Ferrari

Steve Dept, Founding Partner of cApStAn LQC, is the new Chair of the ITC Membership Committee

We are thrilled to share the exciting news that on Thursday 7 December 2023, cApStAn Founding Partner Steve Dept took over the responsibility of chairing the International Test Commission (ITC)’s Membership Committee. Steve will take over this role from Peter McQueen. The role involves recruiting and retaining members, but also assisting in capacity-building activities through …

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2023-11-20
by Pisana Ferrari

“What it takes to build a boutique language solutions provider: a cApStAn founder nails it”

Founders of boutique language solution providers are often overrated and cApStAn is a case in point in this regard. I am Steve Dept, a linguist by training—though not a translator—and a polyglot, initially because my parents travelled a lot: before the end of secondary school, I had attended 14 schools in 4 different languages. While attending German …

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2023-11-17
by Pisana Ferrari

The British Association for Business Psychology (BPA) Awards 2023 ceremomy, London, November 8, 2023

Each year since 2014, the British Association for Business Psychology (ABP) make a statement by celebrating some of the most striking success stories in the field, with a special focus on industrial/organisation impact of applied psychology. Both individuals and organisations submitted their case studies, research, findings, and innovations to a diverse panel of ten eminent …

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2023-11-01
by Pisana Ferrari

“Navigating the Frontiers of DEI and AI: Insights from cApStAn’s 2023 I.C.E. Exchange Experience”

One of cApStAn’s teams is just back from Colorado Springs, USA, where they attended the 2023 Institute for Credentialing Excellence (I.C.E.) Exchange. Devasmita Ghosh (Business Development and Marketing Lead), Nela Manojlovic (Project Manager) and Founding Partner Steve Dept spent a full week there. One needs to begin with the venue. The Broadmoor is a mythical …

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2023-10-02
by Pisana Ferrari

“AI and DEI Take Centre Stage at E-ATP 2023: Insights from cApStAn LQC”

This year the E-ATP 2023 Annual Conference was held in Vienna from September 20 to 22. At cApStAn, we have never missed the E-ATP conferences since 2015 in Dublin, and we are very proud to be one of the Silver Sponsors of this year’s edition. We were represented in Vienna by Founding Partner and Head …

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2023-07-31
by Pisana Ferrari

AI in Test Localisation: Augment, Replace, or Preserve Humans? Steve Dept at E-ATP 2023 Conference in Vienna, September 20

The 2023 edition of the European Chapter of the Association of Test Publishers (E-ATP) annual conference is taking place in Vienna, Austria, on September 20-22. We at cApStAn are delighted that our Founding Partner Steve Dept has been invited to present during one of the sessions on September 20 at 14:15. His presentation is titled …

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2023-06-28
by Pisana Ferrari

Multilingual Skills Assessment Translation Series, Episode 5: Disentangling Proficiency in required Skills from Proficiency in Language

This is the 5th and final issue in our “Multilingual Skills Assessment Translation series”. The primary objective of this series is to provide a comprehensive illustration of the complexities inherent in test translation. By doing so, we aim to underscore the immense value derived from establishing a robust linguistic quality assurance design. This episode takes a closer look …

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2023-06-24
by Pisana Ferrari

Reflections from the e-Assessment Association (eAA) Conference: Insights, Connections, and New Perspectives

The 2023 edition of the e-Assessment Association Conference, which took place in London, June 6-7, offered valuable insights, connections, and fresh perspectives to industry professionals, encouraging collaboration and knowledge exchange. It covered a broad range of topics, including language bias in AI and inclusive assessment practices, exam security enhancements, innovative test design, guidelines for validity …

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2023-06-20
by Pisana Ferrari

Multilingual Skills Assessment Translation series, part 4: Maximising fairness, reliability, and validity in multilingual tests after translation

This is the 4th issue in our “Multilingual Skills Assessment Translation series”. The primary objective of this series is to provide a comprehensive illustration of the complexities inherent in test translation. By doing so, we aim to underscore the immense value derived from establishing a robust linguistic quality assurance design. This episode takes a closer …

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