North China
1. Reaseheath College visits Xinjiang Agricultural Vocational Technical College to explore future opportunities
In June, Tim Lewis, Reaseheath College's representative for the “Principal Shadowing” Programme, visited Xinjiang Agricultural Vocational Technical College to explore opportunities for further cooperation between the two institutions. Mr Lewis met with the heads of the college's Animal Technology, Biological Technology and Garden Technology branches to discuss teaching methods, curriculum arrangements and best practice, and share information about the UK's vocational education system. Following the meetings, Mr Lewis visited a number of local school-enterprise joint ventures.
2. Havlin College and Beijing Fengtai Vocational Education Center School review quality assessment systems
Havlin College's vice president led a visit to Beijing Fengtai Vocational Education Center School in June to hold discussions on the evaluation systems of Chinese and British vocational institutions. Both sides shared details on their respective teaching quality assessment systems and discussed methods and standards for evaluating student performance.
3. Full steam ahead for Burton and South Derby College and Beijing Railway Electrification School
Burton and South Derby College and Beijing Railway Electrification School will continue their “Principle Shadowing” Programme. After in-depth discussions, Burton and South Derby College agreed to help its partner launch a pilot apprenticeship programme. In return, Beijing Railway Electrification School will help its partner develop a new track transportation major. Both sides have signed a Memorandum of Understanding and are discussing the next steps.
4. City Plymouth College and Gansu Secondary Vocational School of Technology host reciprocal visits
Following the signing of a joint agreement in October 2013, a group of teachers and students from Gansu Secondary Vocational School of Technology will visit City Plymouth College as part of an exchange programme in September 2014. This will be followed by a reciprocal visit from the UK partner.
5. Training courses bring together Birmingham Dudley College and Xinjiang Infant Normal School
After a visit from the UK side to Xinjiang in April, Birmingham Dudley College and Xinjiang Infant Normal School are discussing arrangements for “Management Training” and “Teacher Training and Quality Assurance Training” courses to be held at Dudley College between 15 and 22 November.
6. South Tyneside College and Yantai Shipbuilding Industry School reach agreement on diploma programme
After reciprocal visits, joint workshops and extensive discussions on school management, teacher training, teaching assessment, curriculum development and student recruitment, South Tyneside College and Yantai Shipbuilding Industry School reached an inital agreement on launching a Higher National Diploma education cooperation programme in the area of mechanical and electrical engineering in April.
7. Basingstoke College of Technology and Xingtai Modern Vocational School launch joint forum
The first China-UK Vocational Education Schools Forum between Basingstoke College of Technology and Xingtai Modern Vocational School was held in Xingtai in April. Following. The forum is a legacy of the 'Principle Shadowing' Programme and will take place every two years with the second to be held in Basingstoke in 2016.
East China
1. Dudley College and Yangzhou Technical Vocational College welcome exchanges
Representatives from Dudley College visited Yangzhou Technical Vocational College in April to discuss opportunities for cooperation in teacher training, teaching programmes and school-enterprise joint ventures. Yangzhou Technical Vocational College will send two groups of teachers to study in the UK and Dudley College will deliver training sessions in Yangzhou.
2. Reciprocal visits between Exeter College and Shanghai Information Technology College
Following a visit from Exeter College in May, Shanghai Information Technology College will send a delegation to the UK to learn more about its partner. A teacher and student exchange programme will start next year.
3. New Durham College to welcome teachers from Shanghai Fengxian Secondary Vocational School
After a visit from New Durham College in May, Shanghai Fengxian Secondary Vocational School is planning to send a group of teachers to study in the UK.
South China
1. Dongguan Technician College and Walsall College launch China’s first ASFI centre
Following visits from its partner Walsall College and the Accredited Skills for Industry (ASFI) awarding body, the first ASFI centre outside the UK was opened at Dongguan Technician College in July, kicking off certificate cooperation between the two colleges in the fields of hotel management and international business. The Principal of Walsall College will visit Dongguan Technician College in September to discuss further opportunities for cooperation.
2. Bradford College and Shenzhen Institute of Technology find creative spark
Since officially signing their cooperation agreement in November 2013, Bradford College and Shenzhen Institute of Technology are working on a joint submission to the Bradford 2015 International Animation Festival. Shenzhen Institute of Technology is planning to send two teachers and six students to Bradford College on a 14-day technical exchange to allow for closer cooperation.
3. Bradford College visit to Fourth Vocational Technical College in Nanning builds friendly partnership
In May, the President of Bradford College made his second visit to the Fourth Vocational Technical College in Nanning to attend a signing ceremony, hold talks with the Nannig municipal education authority, and explore opportunities in pre-school education, automobile repair, city rail transportation, fashion, architecture and gardening techniques.
Southwest China
1. Kermode College guides Chongqing Industrial School forward
Chongqing Industrial School hosted discussions on international vocational education in July, coinciding with the National Vocational Education Work Conference, which called for accelerated development of China's modern vocational education system and highlighted the necessity to learn from foreign examples, such as the UK's apprenticeship model. Kermode College sent a delegation to attend the discussions and deliver an 8-day workshop on teaching methods and student assessment. As a next step, Chongqing Industrial School will send a group of teachers to study in the UK.
2. Coleg Gwent College shares knowledge with School of Machinery Industry of Guizhou Province
Coleg Gwent College in Wales participated in a 5-day visit to the School of Machinery Industry of Guizhou Province in July as part of the 'Principal Shadowing' Programme.
Coleg Gwent College's representative Mr Gary Handley attended meetings with the school's deputy director and officials from the Department of Education of Guizhou Province to share information on the current condition and development of vocational education in Wales.