The National Institute of Education Testing Service (Niets) has announced its decision to cancel the launch of the controversial University National Educational Test (U-Net).

The Niets board unanimously agreed to call off the initiative and postponed the organization of the exams this year and next.

The Office of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC) and other agencies had earlier criticized the graduate examination. Student networks from 27 state universities had also declared their opposition to the U-Net exam, saying it places more burden on already-overloaded students.

Niets is now to develop a new assessment system for graduates and says an opinion survey will be conducted prior to its launch.

The agency added that a new system will be designed to evaluate graduates at bachelor, master and doctorate levels, stressing that these exams can be taken on a voluntary basis.