Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
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UK and China embark on education partnership
Today the UK and China will agree an action plan to strengthen their relationship on education cooperation.
At today’s Summit, senior representatives from China and the UK’s education sectors will develop and agree a new three year action plan to forge stronger links in higher education, vocational education and skills training, schools and language teaching.
The action plan will identify four strands that reflect the priorities of both countries:
Higher Education: Building Partnerships and Promoting MobilityVocational Education: Developing Further Education and Skills TrainingBasic Education: Raising School StandardsLanguage and Culture: Promoting Mandarin learning in UK and English in China
Welcoming this joint cooperation, Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts said:
“As partners of choice in education, this action plan will offer benefits to both countries by ensuring that the UK and China have well educated and trained people who are equipped to meet the opportunities and challenges of a globalised world.
“This new action plan will help us build a range of sustainable partnerships between our nations’ universities.
“This will involve a number of exciting new programmes that aim to increase the mobility of students, teachers and practitioners between our countries, including a work placement pilot and an enhanced ‘Study in China’ programme commencing in 2012.“
Minister for Skills John Hayes talking about the Vocational Education strand of the action plan said:
“This is an exciting opportunity to explore new ways of collaborating between industry and education institutions. We’re looking forward to discovering possible approaches to piloting a UK apprenticeship programme in China during 2012.”
The Summit will be chaired by the Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove with the Minister for Universities and Science David Willets opening a Higher Education Roundtable attended by a number of UK University Vice-Chancellors.
The action plan that will be agreed at today’s summit will take forward the education framework agreement signed in November last year by Michael Gove and China’s Minister for Education Yuan Guiren.
In addition to the action plan, a number of universities are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), further strengthening the links with China.
Notes to editors:
1. Cooperation on education is part of HMG’s overall strategic plan for engagement with China.
2. On 9 November 2010, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and the UK Prime Minister David Cameron witnessed the signing by China’s Minister for Education Yuan Guiren and Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove of a new framework on education cooperation between UK and China.
3. In line with the framework, a joint steering group will be established to advise, facilitate and monitor progress of activities of the new UK China Partners in Education (UKCPIE) programme. UK members will include the Department for Education, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Devolved Administrations. The Chinese members will include the Ministry of Education.
4. The enhanced ‘Study in China’ programme will enable UK students to gain study and work experience in China as well as a greater long term understanding of the culture, education and economy of China through short visits.
5. The Summit is taking place during the British Council’s ‘China in the UK’ week, which is part of the strategy to foster educational opportunities and cultural relations between China and the UK. More information available here: http://www.britishcouncil.org/new/press-office/press-releases/Chinese-university-leaders-meet-UK-students-to-encourage-international-exchange/.
6. BIS's online newsroom contains the latest press notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. It also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom for more information.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Jenny Varnham
Phone: 020 7215 5080
jenny.varnham@bis.gsi.gov.uk
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