Pearson to tap Indian cos for assessment

Pearson, one of the leading learning companies and owner of the Financial Times and Penguin Books, is now looking at tapping the corporate sector of India as a part of its future expansion plans in the country. Pearson Clinical Assessment (PCA) is bullish on its talent line of business that sells personality and language assessment tools to major companies in India as an aid to their human resources (HR) functions. Prashant Banerjee, marketing head, Pearson Clinical Assessment said "The talent line of our business in India is poised to grow in the coming years. We are planning to come up with more India-customised tests to suit the need of corporates across sectors. We will launch two such tests within the next few months."

He added that PCA currently works with 16 major business process outsourcing companies (BPOs) in India, apart from other companies in the automotive, information technology enabled services (ITeS) and telecommunication sectors. Banerjee, however, refused to divulge India specific revenue figures. Besides, the company is also looking at tying up with training centers across India to expand its footprint in the clinical assessment area. Pearson's diagnostic tests are used widely by clinical psychologists and counsellors. The company conducts workshops at Bangalore to educate professionals about the proper modes of administering the tests and their interpretation.

Banerjee said, "We now plan to tie-up with training centers in 10-12 major cities in the country who would conduct workshops on our behalf. This should significantly enhance our footprint in the clinical segment." PCA's tests cost around Rs 8,000 to Rs 50,000 per test. Some of its popular tests include the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fourth Edition, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Fourth Edition, the Raven’s Educational (CPM/CVS) and the Dyslexia Screening Test – Junior.

Another line of business that PCA aims to tap is association with schools across the country, who would use these tests to diagnose psychological disorders early in school children, as well assess aptitudes among children. In 2008, Pearson Assessment set up its Clinical and Talent Assessment office in Bangalore. In 2009 it formed a joint venture with Educomp, India's largest education company, IndiaCan, which focuses on vocational education and skill development, and also invested in Bangalore-based online tutoring and schools development company, TutorVista.

Earlier this month, it has increased its shareholding in TutorVista, to a controlling 76 per cent stake for a consideration of Rs 577 crore.