Call for UK partner to lead on vocational education leadership training programme for Chinese education association

A Chinese education association responsible for international exchange is looking for a UK partner to deliver a 3-week vocational education leadership training programme for 25 Chinese delegates from key higher vocational institutions in November 2015 in the UK.

The programme will be delivered as part of China’s Vocational Education Leadership Training programme, which is run by the association in question and was jointly established by China’s Ministry of Education and Ministry of Finance in 2008. This programme is an important component of the National Project of Demonstrative Higher Vocational Colleges and is aimed at improving the overall quality of China’s higher vocational education by producing capable leaders, who have modern management skills and international perspectives. Over the past years, 64 delegates have joined training programmes in the UK.

The objectives for the programme are:
- to develop the delegates’ modern management skills;
- to develop the delegates’ understanding of the UK’s vocational education system, including administrative systems, governance systems, student support services, curriculum design, government and industry cooperation, international cooperation, and the UK’s apprenticeship model;
- to discuss approaches to dealing with the globalisation of vocational education;
- to explore opportunities for future cooperation and establish a network for communication with the UK’s vocational education sector.

Training should include a diverse range of approaches, including lectures, guest presentations, case studies, workshops, policy documents, institutional visits, meetings, and job shadowing. Following one week of joint training, the delegates will be split into three groups, one focusing on the UK’s apprenticeship model and two focusing on leadership training, for the second week and part of the third weekend before a joint final review.

Requirements for the UK partner:

The UK partner will lead on the programme design and delivery, including:

- making training arrangements for the first week and the final review;
- identifying host institutions for each of the groups (ideally in two cities), which will be required to:
- provide 6.5 days of training (second and part of third week);
- arrange logistics, including meals, local transportation, and cultural weekend activities, for the delegates.
- designing and delivering the final programme in agreement with the host institutions.

The Chinese partner will arrange and pay for accommodation, international transportation and interpretation services.

The Chinese partner has requested for British Council China to provide support in terms of

- Liaison with UK institutions
- Pre-departure briefing
- Visa facilitation
- To accompany the delegates during the first week of the programme

To express interest in this opportunity or to request a sample of the programme rundown from previous years, please contact Ms You Xiaoyang (Sarah) at xiaoyang.you@britishcouncil.org.cn by Friday 22 May, with a short introduction of your institution, a programme outline and an all-inclusive budget plan.