LONDON, Sept. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH), a leading provider of information technology, consulting, and business process outsourcing services, today announced that it will provide a range of application services to Cambridge Assessment, a not-for-profit examination group owned by Cambridge University. As part of this multi-year, multi-million pound engagement, Cognizant will work with Cambridge Assessment and help rationalize and consolidate its portfolio of applications, and deliver application maintenance and production support services to enable the organization to improve the management and processing of examinations.

Cambridge Assessment is made up of three exam boards—Oxford Cambridge and RSA (OCR), University of Cambridge International Examinations, and University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (English for Speakers of Other Languages)—and plays a leading role in the research, development, and delivery of educational assessment to over 8 million learners around the world. Cambridge Assessment engaged with Cognizant in June 2011 to consolidate application support services in its portfolio to ensure efficiencies and competitiveness in a demanding market, as well as the flexibility to continue to respond to the current and future needs of the business.

The current technology portfolio is a diverse mix of over 122 applications—using legacy, web-based, and proprietary technologies—and database applications as well as third-party packages. Cognizant will streamline the applications to ensure the successful management of examination processing, while facilitating the move towards more cost-effective and easy-to-use technologies.

Cognizant will also help Cambridge Assessment meet its business objectives by transforming the support function from a reactive to a proactive mode. This involves enabling alert and monitoring capabilities, improving usability and governance of in-house applications, and supporting the business during seasonal workload increases through examination periods.

Cognizant was selected for its professional approach to consulting and execution. "Cognizant has shown it fully understands our business objectives and has the proven capability to make them a reality," says Bruno Laquet, Director of Group Infrastructure Services at Cambridge Assessment. "We required a partner that offers best-in-class technology services as well as the reliability, quality, maturity, and flexibility to scale according to business demand. We are confident Cognizant embodies these capabilities and has the strategic vision and ambition to help us achieve our business goals."

"We are delighted to be working with Cambridge Assessment to streamline its applications portfolio and provide services that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of its core business," said Sanjiv Gossain, Senior Vice President and Head of the UK and Ireland operations of Cognizant. "Helping companies remain competitive in today's market through our deep strategic consulting capabilities and technical know-how is always an exciting prospect for us. We look forward to helping transform the way Cambridge Assessment operates to create a reliable and flexible system that can grow with the organization and easily adapt to a changing market."

About Cambridge Assessment

Established over 150 years ago, Cambridge Assessment is the University's international exams group, comprising three exam boards as well as the largest educational research capability of its kind. We are a not-for-profit organization. We play a leading role in researching, developing, and delivering educational assessment to eight million candidates in 160 countries every year.

Through our three exam boards—OCR, University of Cambridge International Examinations and University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (English for Speakers of Other Languages)—we offer qualifications that are valued and recognized by universities, employers, governments, immigration authorities, professional bodies, and education providers around the world.

About Cognizant

Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is a leading provider of information technology, consulting, and business process outsourcing services, dedicated to helping the world's leading companies build stronger businesses. Headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey (U.S.), Cognizant combines a passion for client satisfaction, technology innovation, deep industry and business process expertise, and a global, collaborative workforce that embodies the future of work. With over 50 delivery centers worldwide and 118,000 employees as of June 30, 2011, Cognizant is a member of the NASDAQ-100, the S&P 500, the Forbes Global 2000, and the Fortune 500 and is ranked among the top performing and fastest growing companies in the world. Visit us online at www.cognizant.com or follow us on Twitter: Cognizant.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements which may constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the accuracy of which are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied include general economic conditions and the factors discussed in our most recent Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Cognizant undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE Cognizant