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Celebrating our 15-year partnership with the Mandela Rhodes Foundation 

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The Mandela Rhodes Foundation (MRF) marked their 20th anniversary this year, and we celebrated the ways in which our partnership supported the development of leadership and scholarship in Africa to benefit present and future generations. 

The Mandela Rhodes Foundation 

Founded in 2003 in partnership with the Rhodes Trust, the MRF offer young leaders from across the African continent a prestigious postgraduate scholarship and a Leadership Development Programme. To date, 622 Mandela Rhodes scholars from 33 African countries have received this scholarship. 

We’ve had the privilege of contributing to this vital work by reinvesting 25% of our surplus from our publishing in Southern Africa into their programme of education, research and scholarship. 

This partnership stands as a testament to the power of collective action and a shared vision,. Together, we continue to pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future, where education and ethical leadership thrive. 

A 20-year Legacy 

The MRF marked its 20th anniversary with a series of inspiring events including the launch of the book titled The Audacious Experiment: The Mandela Rhodes Story. The anniversary coincided with the 10th anniversary of the death of former president Nelson Mandela, the founding patron of the Foundation.

The book, published by OUP South Africa on 14 July, was co-authored by Shaun Johnson, the late founding CEO of the MRF, and Professor Elleke Boehmer. The book speaks to the founding story of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation and features past scholars and their impactful contributions to Africa’s development. You can view the e-book here. 

To celebrate this milestone, a gala took place on Saturday 15 July, featuring a special performance by the Ndlovu Youth Choir. Our colleagues from OUP South Africa were among the 400 attendees. 

The evening included a panel discussion which explored the book and the process of its creation. The panelists were introduced by the MRF CEO, Judy Sikuza. The discussions were around “The courage to be unpopular: lessons on leading in complex times”, as a way of bringing Nelson Mandela’s leadership legacy to life in the present moment. 



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Oxford University

Oxford Test of English recognized across Vietnam

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The Oxford Test of English has been officially recognized by Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) for use across the country’s education system—marking a major milestone for learners, educators, and institutions nationwide.   

Following Decision No. 1429/QĐ-BGDĐT, the test is now formally aligned with Vietnam’s National 6-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework and can be used for university admissions and training. 

This nationwide recognition reflects Vietnam’s growing focus on international standards in education and increasing demand for practical English skills.  

By adding the Oxford Test of English to its approved qualifications, Vietnam is giving learners greater flexibility and choice, which will enable them to demonstrate their English proficiency through a globally trusted assessment.  

Sara Pierson, Managing Director, Oxford English Assessment, said: “We are delighted that the Oxford Test of English has been recognized across Vietnam. This milestone reflects our commitment to providing accessible, flexible, and reliable assessment that helps learners demonstrate the real-world English skills they need to succeed in study and work.” 

A practical test for realworld communication 

Developed by Oxford University Press and certified by the University of Oxford, the Oxford Test of English is designed to assess how well learners can use English in everyday academic and professional contexts. 

The test covers all four key skills: Listening; Speaking; Reading; and Writing.

Aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), it goes beyond theory—focusing on real-life communication such as presenting ideas, understanding specialized content, and writing emails and reports. 

The Oxford Test of English is built for convenience and flexibility:  

  • 100% online delivery at approved test centres 
  • Modular format: take all four skills or individual modules
  • Adaptive testing: questions adjust to each learner’s level
  • Fast results: same day for Listening and Reading; within five days for Speaking and Writing.

This approach allows learners to tailor their test experience, save time and cost, and focus on the skills that matter most to them.  

Delivered in Vietnam with trusted local expertise 

In Vietnam, the Oxford Test of English is delivered in partnership with UKTA International Education Joint Stock Company (UKTA), the exclusive distributor of the test in the country.

UKTA works closely with local education partners to develop and manage a nationwide network of approved test centres, ensuring that every test is delivered in line with our standards.

Beyond expanding access, UKTA also plays a key role in quality assurance, helping to provide a secure, consistent, and reliable testing experience for candidates across Vietnam.

With a growing network of approved test centres across the country, students can now access the Oxford Test of English easily, with flexible test dates available year-round.   

The test’s recognition within Vietnam’s national framework provides a clear pathway for learners to meet academic requirements, support graduation, and strengthen their career prospects in an increasingly global environment.

Discover how the Oxford Test of English can support your goals here.



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Publishing our 500th open access book

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Editors also point to how open access can shape the longer arc of scholarship. Steven C. van den Heuvel, Professor of Systematic Theology at Evangelische Theologische Faculteit, Leuven, shared an early sign of impact for The Oxford Compendium of Hope.

“Quantitatively, we can see that, despite it has been out only for a few months, it was already downloaded close to 8,000 times.”



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New research shows teenagers are divided over AI use for schoolwork

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According to findings in our new research exploring pupils’ perspectives on the role of AI in classrooms, teenagers are unclear over appropriate use of AI in their schoolwork.

We conducted research with almost 4,000 13-18-year-olds across the UK, revealing the different approaches that young people take to using AI in their schoolwork, and what roles they see AI playing education—both for them and their teachers.

The report follows on from research we published in 2025, which was one of the first pieces of UK research to hear directly from young people regarding their views on AI in education.

Some of our key findings:


Appropriate use of AI is a grey area

While only four in 10 (44%) think it is cheating to use AI to complete all of their homework, almost one in five also think it is cheating to simply ask any AI tool to give them homework tips.


Students are calling for more support from schools

Just 15% of students stated they have been given enough guidance.


77% would like to see their teachers use AI to support their class in lessons

Key areas include using AI to make complex work easier to understand and lesson planning.


Pupils emphasize their teacher’s unique value

73% pointed to a skill their teacher has which AI can never replace, such as personability, empathy, and human understanding.


Using AI in written tasks

In our qualitative studies, students were asked to complete a simple written exercise and offered the choice of using a generative AI tool if they wished. Of those who had access to AI, almost three quarters (72%) decided not to use it. Of those who didn’t have access, less than a quarter (23%) said they would have liked to have used an AI tool if they had been able to do so.


Young people do not use AI as a default for homework

The qualitative studies mirror survey findings, which highlight that young people do not use AI as a default for their homework, with only one in four (24%) regularly seeking out AI tools. Furthermore, one in three (34%) only use AI tools to help with their homework if suggested by their teachers compared to just 13% who are influenced by their friends.


Students are more excited than worried over impact of AI on their education

Four in 10 students (39%) are more excited than worried about the impact of AI on their education, compared to 16% who said they were more concerned and less than one in three (30%) who felt neither way.


What helps students learn more effectively when using AI?

When asked what helps them learn more effectively when using AI, the majority expressed preferences for AI tools that suggested tasks they can do to help them understand the subject better (44%) or asked them questions to help them reach the answer on their own (41%), compared to just one in five wanting an AI tool to give them the answer straight away.

Dr Alexandra Tomescu

Head of Product AI

“Whilst the research highlights that the appropriate use of AI is still a grey area for students, it’sreassuringto see young people’ssophisticatedattitude towards AI. Both the research and qualitative studies show AI is not necessarily a default for all students, and despite being excited about its impact on their education they still inherently value the role of their teachers and look to their school for guidance. It’s vital therefore that we support teachers with the resources and tools they need to responsibly guide their pupils and harness AI’s potential in the classroom.”

Read the full report on Navigating AI in Education here, and find out more about our updated AI resources and guidance here.

The post New research shows teenagers are divided over AI use for schoolwork appeared first on Oxford University Press.



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