Japan, India to launch common IT testing standards

Asian Economic News, Feb 12, 2001

TOKYO, Feb. 9 Kyodo

Japan and India agreed Friday to set common testing standards for information technology (IT) specialists to develop and improve IT technical skills between the two countries, Japanese officials said.

Under the common criteria, Japan's domestic qualifying examination for IT experts will be looked upon as being on the same level with the third highest of India's four-level test, the officials said.

With the agreement concluded in New Delhi between the two governments, Tokyo decided to relax requirements for Indian IT specialists to enter Japan so that two-way software business will be promoted, they said.

Friday's agreement is the result of Japan's proposal made last October that the two nations work to align their domestic qualifying exams for IT experts.

Tokyo is also seeking to reach an identical accord with other Asian countries to create what it likens to an IT version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) taken by international students planning to study in English-speaking countries.