ETS and Hobsons Unveil TOEFL® Search Service at NAFSA 2012 Annual Conference

First-to-market tool offers international recruiting data

PRINCETON, N.J., May 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- ETS, the creator of the TOEFL® test, and Hobsons, the leader in recruitment, communication, and student success solutions for colleges and universities, will showcase the anticipated TOEFL ® Search Service, an online tool connecting higher education institutions with prospective international students from around the world. A sneak preview of the new searchable database will be revealed at the NAFSA 2012 Annual Conference & Expo as more than 8,000 international education professionals convene in Houston next week.

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Administered by ETS, the TOEFL test is the most widely accepted English-language assessment worldwide, recognized by more than 8,500 institutions in more than 130 countries. To date, more than 27 million students globally have taken the test — a crucial first step toward higher education taught in English. The TOEFL Search Service is the first tool to tap TOEFL test-taker data for student recruitment purposes.

The TOEFL Search Service will offer admissions officials access to an expanding database of more than 200,000 recent TOEFL test takers who have opted in to learn more about higher education opportunities abroad. Admissions officers can search the user-friendly database using up to 26 criteria to customize results and connect with potential targeted applicants. Major features of the service, which will be powered by Hobsons, include:

• Web-based search capabilities that can be automated to secure real-time data about prospective students, driving timely and accurate recruitment decision-making
• Data that easily integrates with leading campus management systems, enabling easy electronic, print or telephone contact with potential students, streamlining outreach efforts
• Insight into the applicant pool by customizing search results by an institution's preferred criteria, such as country or region of the world, TOEFL scores, planned level of study, planned date of enrollment, or desired field of study to ensure recruitment efforts map directly to enrollment goals

"For the first time ever, the TOEFL Search Service connects colleges and universities with TOEFL test takers interested in learning more about higher education opportunities abroad," comments David Hunt, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of ETS's Global Division. "This is a powerful new recruitment tool to assist admissions officers in expanding targeted international candidate pools."

The TOEFL Search Service will officially launch in July 2012, as international recruitment efforts gear up for the academic year.

"The TOEFL Search Service will enable international recruitment admissions teams to gain competitive advantage using previously untapped information," says Craig Heldman, Chief Executive Officer of Hobsons. "Hobsons' collaboration with ETS will arm recruiters with targeted recruitment data that can be easily integrated with existing student information systems to help schools meet enrollment goals and shape incoming classes."

To learn more about how the TOEFL Search Service can improve your international recruitment efforts, click here, call Hobsons at 513-924-3333 or email [email protected].  

About ETS
At ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English language learning, and elementary, secondary and post-secondary education, as well as conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded as a nonprofit in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually — including the TOEFL® and TOEIC ® tests, the GRE ® tests and The Praxis Series™ assessments — in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. www.ets.org

About Hobsons
Hobsons is a premier provider of innovative technology and integrated marketing solutions that empower education professionals to manage the entire student lifecycle including recruitment, enrollment, and retention. With end-to-end, enterprise-class products built from over thirty years of education experience and market knowledge, Hobsons helps more than 7,500 global secondary schools, colleges, and universities achieve their goals. A Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) subsidiary, Hobsons is headquartered in Cincinnati, OH with offices in Arlington, VA; Oakland, CA; London, England; Melbourne, Australia; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

SOURCE Educational Testing Service