Following decades of double-digit growth, China is now moving towards a more sustainable mode of development, a process that has highlighted a shortage of skilled labour. In order to fill this gap, the national government has called for higher education institutions to be brought in line with national development goals and establish closer ties with industry. As part of this initiative the Ministry of Education announced in May 2014 that 600 universities will be turned into institutions of applied learning.

In response, the National Academy of Education Administration convened an international conference to discuss the reform and its impact on the education sector and affected local institutions. The conference was organised in partnership with the British Council and the University of Tampere in Finland. Delegations from both the UK and Finland took part in the conference, alongside an estimated 100 participants from China, consisting mostly of university leaders.

The following is a summary report of the conference, which looks at the challenges for leaders of universities in the process of being recategorised as institutions of applied learning and the policy recommendations that were brought forward as a result of the conference. It is suggested that the UK is in a strong position to share its expertise with China during this period of transition and that there are potential opportunities for further cooperation.