UK Prime Minister Theresa May meets UK alumni at the launch of the 'English is GREAT' campaign. (Photo: British Council)

The British Council ensured a strong presence for the UK education sector during UK Prime Minister Theresa May's official visit to China, contributing to an event focused on education in Wuhan on 31 January, her first scheduled stop.  

In order to support UK alumni in their professional development and build lasting links with the UK, the British Council announced a competition to attract ideas for a new online platform that will bring UK alumni together. In partnership with Deloitte, this digital network will enable UK alumni in China and beyond to interact and build connections with each other, while also facilitating the UK in accessing a range of opportunities across different sectors.

The competition will launch on 12 February and will invite UK alumni to submit ideas for an active and sustainable digital platform to support engagement and networking opportunities for UK alumni in China and globally. The winning team or individual will develop their proposed platform with support from Deloitte as part of a professional project team. The new platform is expected to go live in September 2018.

The British Council also launched a year-long campaign to encourage and support more people in China to learn English as a means to achieve their professional and personal ambitions. The ‘English is GREAT’ campaign will consist of a diverse programme of events throughout 2018, which will promote proficiency in spoken English in particular. Support from British singer Jessie J and Chinese actress Angelababy as campaign ambassadors will inspire Chinese nationals to engage in the campaign activities.

As a key activity, the ‘English is GREAT: English Teacher Award’ will recognise excellence in teaching among Chinese non-native teachers of English. Monthly prizes will be awarded to celebrate the inspirational role teachers play in the life of individuals, with a grand final prize to be announced later in the year. The Award is supported by partners UYoung and International House London.

Further campaign events will include projects to support learners in achieving proficiency in spoken English and to train sector professionals in using the UK’s leading expertise in English Language Teaching (ELT) and assessment. Throughout the campaign, the ‘English is GREAT’ website will provide access to free online resources and a range of inspirational materials for those embarking on their English language journey.

There are an estimated more than 600,000 UK alumni and more than 300 million English language learners in China, making it a priority market for the UK.