A military hospital in Vietnam is one step closer towards being part of a United Nation peacekeeping mission in South Sudan after many of their staff improved their English skills by preparing for IELTS.

175 Hospital, based in the south of Vietnam, was chosen to send a medical team to establish a level two field hospital in South Sudan as part of one of the first peacekeeping missions the Vietnamese People’s Army has undertaken overseas.

As part of being accepted by the UN, the hospital had to prove the English language proficiency of its staff, with the required level set at an IELTS band score of 5.5. 

To assist the team, the Australian Defense Attache Office of The Australian Embassy in Vietnam, program sponsors, joined with IDP’s ACET language school to deliver intensive English courses.

After three months of committed study and dedication, 17 staff members sat IELTS and achieved the target score, meaning the hospital team is now one step closer to deployment.

Warwick Freeland, Managing Director-IELTS at IDP Education, said this example reinforces that IELTS is a global test that allows people to achieve significant milestones.

“We are proud that IELTS is playing a role in helping 175 Hospital begin their peacekeeping mission. 

Our globally consistent test and scoring system provides a high level of trust in a candidate’s English language skills, which is vital ahead of 175 Hospital embarking on such an important mission,” Mr Freeland said.

IELTS is the world’s leading high-stakes English language test for study, work and migration. Its results are trusted by more than 10,000 organisations around the world, including many national medical regulatory bodies.