Shandong Sports University (SSU) is looking for UK partners for collaboration in joint programmes, articulation arrangements, student and faculty exchanges, and teacher training in the field of sports, including:

  • 3+1 (for bachelor’s degree) or 3+1+1 (for master’s degree) joint programmes with the National Football Academy in the fields of sports training and football. They aim to recruit up to 100 students for the joint programme in 2018. Upon completion of the programme, the students will receive dual degrees issued by both the Chinese and UK partner university.
  • 2+2 or 3+1 articulation arrangement (dual degrees) in the fields of physical education, exercise rehabilitation, leisure sports and sports economics and management.
  • One semester student exchange programme (around five students per semester, no degree)
  • Short term teacher training programme (1-2 teachers for one month per semester in the UK partner’s university)

Benefits for the UK partners

This is an opportunity for the selected UK partners to establish long-term, commercial partnerships with an excellent sports focused university, through student and faculty exchange, articulation, joint programmes and training opportunities. It is also an opportunity for the UK partners to raise their institutions’ profiles and brand awareness in China, which may benefit student recruitment.

Areas of responsibility for the two collaborating parties

The selected UK partners will be expected to work with Shandong Sports University to:

  • develop the curricula for the programmes
  • provide support in the quality assurance of the programmes
  • issue a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree to the students upon completion of the programmes.

Shandong Sports University will be responsible for:

  • promoting and recruiting students for the programmes
  • providing qualified teaching staff as well as the required teaching premises and logistical support for the programmes
  • supporting prospective students in preparing to study in the UK as part of the programmes.

About Shandong Sports University

Shandong Sports University, founded in 1958, is the only university in Shandong province that majors in sports degrees, with two campuses in Jinan and Rizhao in Shandong Province. SSU has around 10,000 students doing undergraduate and post graduate sports related degree courses. To echo Shandong government’s goal of “Healthy China 2030”, SSU has been promoting innovative mechanisms within competitive sports, mass sports and the sports industry in general.

About Shandong Sports University National Football Academy

On 12 January 2017, Shandong Sports University opened the National Football Academy, the first academy of its kind, specialising in degrees across the whole footballing spectrum. The academy is sponsored by the General Administration of Sport of China and Shandong provincial government and jointly hosted by China football association, Shandong Sports Bureau and Shandong Sports University. The National Football Academy will operate as an associate academy of Shandong Sports University. It will officially launch full time undergraduate and postgraduate educational programmes in September 2017, with the goal of developing high level football projects for coaches, referees, managers, teachers, specialised fitness trainers, sports rehabilitation professionals, and club executives.

UK universities interested in this opportunity should contact siem.china@britishcouncil.org.cn by 12 May 2017 and provide a one-page introduction to their institution covering strengths and experience in developing and delivering articulation and joint programmes in the relevant areas of sports.

Timeline

Shandong Sports University would like to select partners in May and finalise the agreements in late 2017.