New Phase of Educational Collaboration Between the UK and China Education Articles

Last month’s eighth UK-China Education Summit in London culminated in the signing of the UK-China Strategic Framework in Education, described by British Minister for Universities and Science Jo Johnson as representing a “new phase of scientific and educational collaboration on an unprecedented scale.” Here’s what you need to know.

About the Summit

As part of the ongoing People to People bilateral dialog between the two nations, a whopping 23 education agreements were signed by Minister Johnson and China’s Minister of Education Yuan Guiren on September 17th. The goal of the summit and its initiatives? To boost student mobility and research exchange. Major areas of focus will include STEM, language, arts and sports.

The UK-China Strategic Framework in Education also prioritizes partnership through the establishment of new joint academic institutions. Currently, 60 college partnerships exist between the two countries. This number will rise to 200, according to one memorandum of understanding from the summit.

The Future of UK-Chinese Relations

Minister Johnson’s statement further says that the agreement “will bring researchers together to address global challenges, change the lives of young people through better access to sports, and build partnerships across school, vocational and higher education to provide students in both countries with the right skills to become the leaders of the future.”

With more than 90,000 Chinese students studying in the UK and an additional 50,00 enrolled in British education programs in China, according to recent statistics, education is a major factor in UK-Chinese relations.

However, while educational trade is indeed a hot commodity, this movement simultaneously represents unprecedented potential for innovation beyond the educational spectrum. In addition to promoting global educational exchange, this increased collaboration is expected to build both cultural and business links between the two nations toward Britain’s aim of becoming “China's best partner in the West.” - masterstudies.com

Joanna worked in higher education administration for many years at a leading research institution before becoming a full-time freelance writer. She lives in the beautiful White Mountains region of New Hampshire with her family.