The Commercial Education Society of Australia (CESA) is an independent, non-profit organisation formed in 1910 to promote the attainment in Australia and neighbouring countries of the highest possible standards in the practice of teaching of commercial subjects. It does this by conducting public examinations and issuing certificates — see Student Examinations.
The Society is independent and self-supporting. It is a non-profit organisation.
Since its earliest days the Society has been in touch with industry requirements for business administration skills. It meets those needs by offering a low-cost, public examination service.
The Society offers examinations in Levels 2, 3 and 4.
All assessments are based on the Australian Quality Training Framework standards.
The Society’s longevity is due in large measure to an unshakeable belief among our members in the worth of what we are doing. It is due also to relationships — among members; and with schools, colleges and their students.
Now, in its One Hundredth year, the Society is an organisation of trainers, assessors and members whose aim is to help improve standards of vocational education and training for the Business Services sector.
Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor-General of Australia, honours us with her patronage, as has every other Governor-General for the past 48 years. We have also been awarded a Grant-in-Arms by the College of Heralds in the United Kingdom.
In 1910 most business training was delivered by private colleges. Each college conducted its own exams and issued its own qualifications. Some colleges wanted a stronger guarantee of integrity. It seemed to them that the best way to achieve that was by sending the exam papers overseas.
In 1910 the only external organisations conducting independent exams in commercial subjects were in the United Kingdom. Exam papers had to be sent from Australia to England, and the results sent back to Australia. There was no air mail. Everything had to go by sea. It took months to get results.
So a group of college principals decided to form a local examining body that would be independent of all colleges.
That was our foundation.
Over the years we have examined thousands of students. We are well known, and we are trusted. Almost all of our administration is voluntary. We are lucky to have so many leading professional teachers willing to help. We are now examining widely overseas.
The mission of the CESA is to provide students with the opportunity to raise their standards of education so that they can take advantage of the opportunities for further education and employment. This is reflected in the Society’s coat-of-arms Digne Ambulate — walk worthily.
The CESA is an independent examination body for students. For teachers and practitioners, it is a professional development body that encourages lifelong learning for a sustainable career in the vocational education and training sector.
As a fully independent examination body, the CESA examines students from a diversity of backgrounds.
The goal of the CESA is to invite input from practitioners both in employment and in the policy area, build links with like educational bodies, and to focus on the developments of technology that will benefit teaching and learning.
© Copyright CESA March 2010
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