Date change - Marketing Mission to Shandong, China: Student Recruitment and Partnership Development

UK universities are invited to participate in the British Council’s Marketing Mission to Shandong, China from 14 to 16 November 2018. British Council marketing missions are specifically designed to support UK universities looking to explore market opportunities in promising tier 2 cities in China. Shandong province is the target destination for this mission.

The British Council organised the first Marketing Mission to Shandong in 2017. Nine UK universities used the mission as a platform to recruit prospective Chinese students and explore potential recruitment-focused partnerships with 51 universities, vocational colleges and international schools in Shandong. The mission successfully helped raise the profile of UK education and from a follow up survey, the nine UK institutions reported over 40 potential partnership opportunities had been identified in different collaboration models including joint research, TNE, training, student exchange, faculty exchange, etc.

Following the success of this mission and due to the Shandong Department for Education’s continued commitment to facilitating international education partnerships, the British Council has decided to organise a second mission to provide a further platform for participating UK universities to recruit prospective Chinese students and explore potential recruitment-focused partnerships with universities, vocational colleges and international schools in Shandong, and to raise brand profile in China.

Highlights for this year’s mission:

• 1-2-1 match-making meetings based on pre-event mapping of areas of interest; each participating UK institution can select and meet 6-8 Chinese institutions. Each meeting will be 40 minutes.
• Media interviews by local journalists and press release distribution amongst local media including China Education online, Shandong Education TV, Qilu Evening and Phoenix.com, etc.
• Mini fair to meet prospective students. Students from the participating Chinese institutions will be invited and there will be promotion to attract the public.

Why Shandong?

Shandong is the third largest provincial economy in China, after Guangdong and Jiangsu; and the largest in northern China. On its own, it is the world’s 16th largest economy. Shandong’s combined 1.98 million vocational, undergraduate and postgraduate students is the largest provincial HE student population in China.

The provincial education department of Shandong has prioritised the improvement of the internationalisation of higher education and vocational education, to strengthen the overall quality of education in Shandong. Over 60 HE institutions in Shandong have expressed a specific interest in establishing TNE and/or articulation partnerships with UK institutions across a range of subjects.

Proposed Programme (DRAFT)

Responsibilities for participating universities Please note that the above is a draft itinerary and is subject to change.

1. To provide branding materials at the booth of the mini fair
2. To provide alumni work or bring alumni to showcase at the mini fair

Confirmed UK universities will be invited to join a conference call with British Council staff to discuss the opportunities and desired outcomes, and to ensure that the mission meets expectations.

Participation Fee

The British Council will charge a £1,500 participation fee*, which will cover programme planning, coordination of meetings, comprehensive briefings for the participating UK universities, and logistical support throughout the programme.

Please note, the participation fee will not cover domestic or international travel, accommodation, subsistence, or freight.

*Not including VAT