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