The British Council China is delighted to invite UK institutions to join our Study & Career Options events in Sports in 2016, which are aimed at promoting the UK’s educational opportunities in sports.

Introduction

China’s sports industry is picking up speed, becoming more profitable, and is now emerging as a new contributor to China’s economic development. It is expected that Chinese students’ interests in sports subjects will continue to grow, considering the government’s ambitious plans to grow its sports sector into a GBP500 billion industry and upcoming major global sports events, such as the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Young people in China are aware that sports-related expertise can give them a competitive edge in the jobs market and increase their earning potential.

The UK enjoys a strong reputation in sports education amongst the general public in China, thanks to its first-class teaching resources and its advances in research and development. In addition, the wide range of subjects offered by UK institutions, and the fascinating career opportunities they open, make the UK a highly attractive study destination. This has contributed to the continuous growth of Chinese students studying sports subjects in the UK over the past few years.

Opportunity

The 2016 Study & Career Options events in Sports will be delivered in collaboration with academics, industry professionals and alumni, who will share their experiences in order to help prospective students gain a comprehensive understanding of sports subjects and their career-enhancing features, and make an informed decision about their education.

UK institutions are invited to nominate academics to visit the host institutions in China and join the panel discussion on related topics. This is an opportunity for UK institutions to showcase their sports offerings and directly engage with prospective Chinese students.

Requirements

Depending on the audience profile for each session (which is outlined below), discussion content will be expected to cater to career counsellors, or school students and/or university students looking for in-depth information on studying sports in the UK and related career options.

Participation fee

The British Council China will charge a participation fee of £500 per host institution visited, exclusive of VAT, which will cover programme planning, promotion, co-ordination, briefing and logistical support during the sessions. The participation fee will not cover international or domestic travel, accommodation, subsistence or freight.

Please note, participation in the panel discussion is limited to one academic from each participating institution. A maximum of four UK institutions may be represented at each session and up to two host institutions will be visited in each city.

Visa

A visa will be necessary for UK passport holders to participate in the 2016 Study & Career Options events. The British Council can provide invitation letters to participants who require a visa, but it is the responsibility of the applicant institution to follow the correct procedures.

Further information regarding visas for China can be found on the website of the Chinese Embassy in the UK (http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/visa/).