British Council marketing missions are specifically designed for UK universities looking to explore market and partnership opportunities in promising tier two cities in China. UK universities are invited to participate in the British Council’s Marketing Mission to Tianjin and Zhejiang from 22 to 29 March 2018.
The 2018 British Council Marketing Mission will provide a platform for participating UK universities to explore potential recruitment focused and partnership opportunities with universities in Tianjin and Zhejiang. The marketing mission will focus on recruitment of prospective Chinese students and the raising of participating institutions brand profiles in China through media and digital channels. The mission will take place at a time when Chinese students will begin making their study abroad decisions for September 2018. This year’s mission is in partnership with the Tianjin Municipal Education Commission and the Education Department of Zhejiang Province.
Proposed programme in Tianjin
Date/City | Activity |
21 March Wednesday, Tianjin | 17:00-18:00 Briefing to UK institutions by the British Council |
22 March Thursday, Tianjin | Market briefing and partnership meeting 08:30-09:00 Registration 09:00-10:20 Opening and market briefing 10:20-10:40 Tea break 10:40-12:30 Partnership discussions, including 1-to-1 meetings based on pre-event mapping of areas of interest 12:30-14:00 Lunch 14:00-17:00 1-to-1 meetings |
23 March Friday, Tianjin | Institution promotion and campus presentation in Tianjin 09:00-09:30 Departure for a local university 09:30-10:30 Presentation to students at a local university 10:30-11:30 Interactive discussions on topics of interest to the students 11:30-12:00 Q&A or individual counselling sessions with interested students; and distribution of promotional materials. 14:00-17:00 Campus presentation at a local university: programme same as above Evening Departure |
23 to 30 March | Social media campaign Each participating institution will be offered one promotional post through British Council social media platforms (Study UK WeChat + Study UK Weibo). |
* Please note that the above is a draft itinerary and is subject to change
Proposed programme in Hangzhou and Ningbo, Zhejiang province
Date/City | Activity |
26 March Monday, Hangzhou | 17:00-18:00 Briefing to UK institutions by the British Council |
27 March Tuesday, Hangzhou | Market briefing and partnership meeting 08:30-09:00 Registration 09:00-10:20 Opening Ceremony
10:20-10:40 Tea break 10:40-12:30 Partnership discussions, including 1-to-1 meetings based on pre-event mapping of areas of interest 12:30-14:00 Lunch 14:00-17:00 Partnership discussions, including 1-to-1 meetings based on pre-event mapping of areas of interest |
28 March Wednesday, Hangzhou | Institution promotion and campus presentation in Hangzhou 09:00-09:30 Departure for a local university 09:30-10:30 Presentation to students at a local university 10:30-11:30 Interactive discussions on topics of interest to the students 11:30-12:00 Q&A or individual counselling sessions with interested students; and distribution of promotional materials. 14:00-17:00 Campus presentation at a local university: programme same as above Evening Departure |
29 March Thursday, Ningbo | Institution promotion and campus presentation in Ningbo 09:00- 09:30 Departure for a local university 09:30- 10:30 Presentation to students 10:30-11:30 Interactive discussions on topics of interest to the students 11:30-12:00 Q&A or individual counselling sessions with interested students; and distribution of promotional materials. 14:00 – 17:00 Campus presentation: programme same as above |
23 to 30 March | Social media campaign Each participating institution will be offered one promotional post through British Council social media platforms (Study UK WeChat + Study UK Weibo). |
* Please note that the above is a draft itinerary and is subject to change.
Tianjin
Tianjin borders Beijing and Hebei province and is only half an hour by train from Beijing. Tianjin is one of the four municipalities under direct administration of the central government. Tianjin's GDP reached 1.8 trillion yuan in 2016 ranking it fifth on the list of Chinese cities by GDP, behind Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
Tianjin Municipal government and HE institutions in Tianjin see internationalisation as a key development plan for improving the quality of higher education and vocational education. 20 Higher Education institutions in Tianjin have expressed interest in establishing TNE partnerships with the UK across a wide range of subject areas.
Participation Institutions in Tianjin
1 | Nankai University |
2 | Tianjin University |
3 | Tianjin Normal University |
4 | Tianjin Medical University |
5 | Tianjin University of Science and Technology |
6 | Tianjin Polytechnic University |
7 | Tianjin University of Commerce |
8 | Tianjin University of Technology and Education |
9 | Tianjin University of Finance and Economics |
10 | Tianjin University of Technology |
11 | Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine |
12 | Tianjin Foreign Studies University |
13 | Tianjin Chengjian University |
14 | Tianjin Conservatory of Music |
15 | Tianjin University of Sports |
16 | Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts |
17 | Tianjin Agricultural University |
18 | Tianjin Open University |
19 | Tianjin Aviation University |
20 | Tianjin Sino-German University of Applied Sciences |
Zhejiang
Zhejiang province is an economic powerhouse in China and in 2016 saw GDP growth of 7.5% to 4.6 trillion yuan, ranking its total provincial GDP as fourth in the country. From 2010 to 2015 Zhejiang province invested 80 billion into the development of its Higher Education sector. Between 2016 and 2020 the government plans to invest over 100 billion RMB into HE development.
The provincial government and HE institutions in Zhejiang see internationalisation as an essential part of improving the quality of Higher Education in Zhejiang. The province has a strong base of UK TNE links and has dedicated funds to strengthen priority subjects in five key institutions through the development of international partnerships and is also in the process of implementing the Key University Construction Plan for 12 universities of which internationalisation is a key component.
15 HE institutions in Zhejiang have expressed a specific interest in establishing TNE and/or articulation partnerships with UK institutions across a range of subject areas, including creative arts (fine arts/innovative design/fashion/digital media), materials science and environmental engineering, forestry, agriculture and food science, nursing / medical / pharmaceutical / life science etc. Currently Zhejiang has two Ministry of Education approved joint institutions and 10 joint programmes with UK higher education institutions.
Participating Institutions in Zhejiang
1 | China Academy of Art |
2 | Zhejiang University of Tech |
3 | Zhejiang Normal University |
4 | Ningbo University |
5 | Zhejiang Sci-Tech University |
6 | Hangzhou Dianzi University |
7 | Zhejiang Gongshang University |
8 | Zhejiang Chinese Medical University |
9 | Zhejiang Ocean University |
10 | Zhejiang A&F University |
11 | Wenzhou Medical University |
12 | Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics |
13 | Zhejiang University of Science and Technology |
14 | Hangzhou Normal University |
15 | Wenzhou University |
Interested UK universities are invited to consider the list of Chinese institutions and to highlight those institutions that they are most interested in meeting. The British Council will, as far as possible, organise meetings and campus presentations based on these preferences.
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
- Tianjin: £1,200 +VAT
- Zhejiang (Hangzhou and Ningbo): £1,700 +VAT
The fee 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.
How to Apply
Please complete the attached application form and send it to siem.china@britishcouncil.org.cn by 1 February 2018.
Please note: places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.