Sunlands Education (www.sunlands.com) is looking for UK institutions as strategic partners to jointly develop online courses and provide online professional qualifications, certificates and degree education via their developed platform, as a next-step plan for Chinese online learners .Their platform includes a desktop version and a mobile application.

The suggested joint programmes to be provided include:

1. Professional qualifications and certificates
2. Degree courses, including top-up programmes

NB. China's Ministry of Education does not recognise international distance learning degrees. Therefore, the suggested joint programmes would be suitable for an audience of young professionals who are working or intend to work in companies who accept international distance learning degrees, such as international companies.

Responsibilities

UK institutions:

• Admissions and student registration  
• Quality assurance and certificate/qualification/degree awarding  
• Faculty, teaching and online academic resources

Sunlands:

• Technology support both in the UK and China (Sunlands will send a technical team to the UK to provide assistance)
• Student recruitment and promotion, online and offline
• Local student support
• Vocational qualification counselling

Both:

• Course and programme content development  
• Real-campus experiences for selected students eg. visiting or studying at the UK partner campus for a short time

Benefits for UK partners

• Cash reimbursement (details to be further negotiated by Sunlands and selected UK partners)
• Student mobility and progression for further studies at the UK institutions
• Building brand awareness across China

About Sunlands Education

Founded in 2003, Sunlands Education is a leading education and training group company in China. At present, the main streams of their business in education involve:

• Cross-border online education programmes
• Education for distance learning degrees awarded by Chinese universities
• Trainings for vocational/professional qualifications
• Training around applied IT skills
• Preparatory training for MBA entrance exams in China

In 2014, Sunlands Education changed from a traditional off-line education organisation, to an 'e-learning' education organisation. They have since operated as one of the largest live online learning platforms in China and are recognised as one of the top companies in China for distance learning degrees and vocational training. Since they were established, Sunlands has successfully served over 1.5 million learners across China. They currently have more than 1000 teaching and research practitioners, with branches in more than 100 cities nationwide. Two leading venture investment funds, Matrix Partners and New Oriental Inc. are among their shareholders.

Sunlands is now working to extend their business into global education and hope to work closely with UK institutions to develop customised online education technology and services, providing in-country Chinese learners with globally recognised and high quality distance learning certificates or degree opportunities.