ITC President’s Welcome
It is my very great pleasure to invite you on behalf of the International Test Commission (ITC) to attend the International Test Commission’s 10th Conference in Vancouver Canada, 1st-4th July, 2016.
The ITC is an association of national psychological associations, test commissions, publishers and other organizations. It also has a large individual member base. Membership covers most of the Western and Eastern European Countries and North America, as well as countries in the Middle and Far East, and South Africa.
The ITC is committed to promoting effective testing and assessment policies and to the proper development, evaluation and uses of educational and psychological instruments. The ITC facilitates exchanges of information among members and others; facilitates cooperation toward the solution of problems associated with test development and use; and in other ways explores issues related to the construction, distribution, and use of tests, scales, and other methods used to assess personal and group qualities.
To achieve its goals, the ITC develops and promulgates guidelines relating to test development and use, organizes international meetings, fosters discussions on test development and use, advances professional development in reference to test development and use, promotes the publication of relevant information through its journal (the International Journal of Testing) and other publications, stimulates international cooperation on research and other forms of scholarship in ways that promote scientifically and ethically sound testing practices, and consults with others on the development and use of tests.
The biennial ITC Conferences provide a key focus for these activities and brings together people from around the world to discuss and debate topics of common interest and concern. The theme of the 2016 conference is “Improving policy and practice: Opportunities and challenges in an international context”. Under this theme we plan to provide a strong and varied program of presentations and other forums for discussion and debate. We are building on the success of the last conference in San Sebastian, Spain (2014). While it will be hard to improve on that, the 2016 conference team is determined to do so. They have a great location to work with. If you’ve never been to Vancouver, now is your chance to visit. If you have been, then you will surely want to return.
I very much look forward to welcoming you to the conference,
Dave Bartram
ITC President
Chair of the Organizing Committee
Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of the Organizing Committee of the 10th International Test Commission (ITC) Conference, it is my great pleasure and privilege to invite you to join us from July 1 to July 4 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. After a very successful Conference in San Sebastian, Spain in 2014, this is the firsttime the ITC Conference is held in Canada. Testing and assessment is a global undertaking and we would like to encourage delegates from all over the world to share their innovative research and to engage in productive conversations on the implications of their research findings for improving policy and practice at both local and international levels.
Assessment and testing informs decisions that have significant impact on policy and practice in many fields around the world. Advancement in psychometric modelling, technological developments and growing globalization of societies with multilingual and multicultural contexts pose both opportunities and challenges to testing and assessment. With a focal theme of Improving Policy and Practice: Opportunities and Challenges in an International Context, the 10th ITC Conference will offer symposia, paper presentations, posters and workshops which aim to provide insights about the state-of-the-art research and highlight some of the most critical issues assessment and testing are facing around the world. The scientific program will be organized around four overlapping themes that complement each other in their respective roles in improving policy and practice: (a) Educational testing and assessment; (b) Psychological testing and assessment; (c) Testing for employment and credentialing; and (d) Testing for program evaluation and public policy. In collaboration with the Scientific Committee, the Conference Organizing Committee put together a program that includes keynote speeches from distinguished scholars, workshops on cutting-edge topics, peer-reviewed presentations and exciting cultural and recreational activities.
Vancouver is a modern, dynamic, and multicultural city. It is located on the edge of the Pacific which provides a spectacular natural setting and a gateway to Asia and the Pacific. Vancouver has built a reputation among international conference delegates as a premier destination for meetings and conventions. Easy access, first-class hotels, and exceptional cuisine are just a few of many attributes that will make the Vancouver experience unforgettable for you.
The 10th ITC conference will be held in downtown Vancouver, at the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel and Pinnacle Vancouver Harbourfront Hotel. The two hotels are right across from each other and a block away from Vancouver’s waterfront. Both hotels offer guest rooms as well as meeting rooms with stunning water and mountain views.
I look forward to welcoming you in July 2016 for a great Conference in Vancouver!
Kadriye Ercikan
Chair of the Organizing Committee