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1. The Minster of Education Zhou Ji and representatives from the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China met with the Secretary of State John Denham and representatives from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (on behalf of the Government and Devolved Administrations of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) for the third Ministerial level Sino-UK Education Summit in Beijing on 29 October 2007.
2. The two sides confirmed that the aim of this collaboration is to contribute to the continuing development of higher education in the UK and China. It is intended to enable both sides to learn from each other’s experience and to strengthen links and strategic collaboration that supports national higher education developments and enhances excellence in teaching, learning and research.
Activity under past and current MoUs on higher education collaboration
3. With respect to Sino - UK collaboration in higher education development, the two sides noted with satisfaction the vigorous programme of joint activity which has been conducted since the signature of the first MoU in September 1997 between the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) (on behalf of the UK). Examples include:
• The National Policy on Higher Education Management project that has brought together key higher education experts and researchers from China and England to study and compare the higher education management and governance systems in the two countries;
• The Leadership Development Network Programme that has provided opportunities for 35 UK Pro Vice-Chancellors and Vice Principals and 35 Chinese Vice-Presidents to learn about each other’s practices and develop their leadership skills;
• The Sino-UK e-Learning Programme (eChina-UK) that has allowed a total of 9 UK and 11 Chinese universities to collaborate on the development, evaluation and delivery of a wide range of e-based teacher training modules and the training of e-tutors;
• The Science Park Collaboration project that has provided training to over 50 Chinese science park managers to strengthen relations between the university science park associations in the two countries.
• The Mutual Recognition of Academic Degrees in Higher Education Agreement, signed in 2003, facilitated student mobility between the two countries as well as providing opportunities for UK institutions to seek joint ventures with their Chinese counterparts.
• The Scholarships for Excellence programme that has provided full scholarship opportunities for approximately 100 Chinese PhD and post doctoral students to study in the UK since its launch in 2005.
4. Activity over the 10 years has included collaboration in areas such as high-level policy dialogues, workshops, sharing of information and experience, study visits, collaborative projects and pilot projects and a regular Forum of UK Vice Chancellors and Chinese Presidents. These activities have covered a variety of topics such as quality assessment of research and postgraduate education; HE management, strategic and operational planning; links with business; management and development; and e-collaboration.
5. Both sides agreed that the rich experience gained from the many collaborative activities to date has delivered valuable benefits to the governments and higher education sectors on both sides, and they expressed their commitment to continuing to develop the collaboration between the two countries in the future.
Future areas of collaboration
6. Both sides recognized the importance of Sino-UK Strategic Collaboration in Higher Education taking place within the framework of annual Sino-UK Education Summits. Both sides will work together to ensure that future joint activities are consolidated under a strategic Sino-UK Education Partnership Programme.
National higher education policy
7. Both sides recognised the importance of the current project on National Policy on Higher Education Management. They reaffirmed their desire to see regular dialogues and exchanges between senior policy makers in each country. Both sides agreed to develop a new collaborative project in policy areas of mutual interest:
• employability and entrepreneurship;
• the role of universities in regional development;
• life-long learning;
• the role of intermediary bodies.
Employability and entrepreneurship
8. Both sides recognise the crucial role of education in developing employable, enterprising citizens who play an active role in society. They recognize the challenges facing both countries in: developing a skilled workforce; developing curriculum and teaching styles; entrepreneurial and creative learners. The UK side, will support up to 5 projects for UK universities to work in partnership with Chinese universities on employability and entrepreneurship. Both sides agreed to:
• hold a forum in China for practitioners from government and education institutions to enable the exchange of ideas, experiences and expertise between the two countries;
• explore the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for further co-operation.
University leadership development
9. Both sides agreed to:
• develop bi-lateral links between leadership organisations in the two countries (in the UK the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, the Committee of University Chairmen);
• evaluate current programmes and explore joint leadership development programmes for senior university leaders and leaders at other levels within institutions
Mutual recognition of academic degrees in higher education
10. Both sides agreed that the 2003 Memorandum of Understanding had made a significant contribution in increasing the capacity and opportunity for students to study and work abroad. Both sides recognized that there are higher education institutions in each country which do not have degree-awarding authority themselves, but can deliver degree courses to students through collaboration with those higher education institutions which have degree-awarding authority. Discussions on degree quality and comparability have been already undertaken and both sides will continue the discussion in this area.
Quality assurance and enhancement of collaborative programmes and courses
11. Both sides agreed on the importance of quality in higher education. They recognise the need to deepen the information exchanges on quality assurance and enhancement of collaborative programmes and courses between the two countries. Both sides agreed to:
• develop bi-lateral links between the national organisations responsible for quality assurance in the two countries (in the UK the Quality Assurance Agency), beginning with regular information exchanges;
• explore areas of co-operation in enhancing quality and excellence in learning and teaching
Sino-UK Scholarships for Excellence
12. Both countries agreed to continue to jointly fund scholarship opportunities for Chinese students to go to the UK at the current target level of 50 places per annum. It was also agreed to extend the programme to UK graduates at an appropriate level during 2008. In recognition of both countries’ hosting and commitment to the Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012 respectively, the Ministers agreed to extend the scope of the existing scholarship programme by providing 5 additional scholarships specifically targeted at sports science researchers.
China-UK Science Networks
13. The China-UK Science Networks programme has been established between China and UK to facilitate postdoctoral scientists from both countries to explore scientific research cooperation possibilities, and encourage them to apply other national or/and multinational research funds. The programme was launched in June 2007 and both sides will review the progress at the next summit.
Student mobility
14. Both sides agreed that it is a shared responsibility to instill a strong global dimension into the learning experience of all our children and young people. An important element in this process is to encourage more young people to gain a first hand experience of living and working in another country and culture and to develop a better understanding of what globalization means for both countries.
15. It is estimated that 1405 UK students study in China each year compared to approximately 60,000 Chinese students who are studying in the UK. UK Ministers are keen to increase the numbers of UK students able to access this kind of experience. In 2007, the UK launched the first HE Summer School which provided opportunities for 200 UK undergraduates to experience a taster of language, business and cultural activities in China. Initial feedback from participants had been extremely positive and it is hoped that a second summer school would be arranged for 2008 with the possibility of a reciprocal summer school in the UK for Chinese students.
Graduate Work Experience
16. It was agreed that for 2007-08 and 2008-09, both countries would jointly fund paid work placement opportunities for Chinese graduates at the current target level of 200 places per annum. It was also agreed that both countries would extend the scheme during 2008 to UK graduates at an equivalent level.
Chinese studies and Chinese language teaching.
17. Both sides agreed that language teaching collaboration plays a fundamental and significant role in the overall cooperation including education of the two countries, as well as the development of a comprehensive strategic partnership between UK and China. Both sides agreed:
• to continue to actively implement activities specified in the Memorandum of Understanding following the UK–China Meeting on Chinese Learning and Teaching signed between Office of Chinese Language Council International and Department for Education and Skills on 19 July 2006;
• to jointly encourage the takeup of Confucius Institutions at British Universities.
Establishment of a Sino-UK Steering Committee
18. A steering committee will be established of members from and designated by both sides. The name list will be exchanged through diplomatic channels. The primary function of the steering committee is to advise, facilitate and monitor progress of activity covered in this MoU.
19. Representatives agreed that participation in, and where appropriate project management of, activities under the collaboration should include representatives from other relevant national bodies, and HE institutions in both countries.
20. Both sides undertake to continue these discussions, with the goal of developing and expanding the scope of the programme during the period of the agreement. They agreed to work together to develop detailed proposals and timetables for agreed future plans, in order to ensure implementation within identified resources. Plans would be monitored and reviewed on a regular basis.
Signed in duplicate in Beijing on 29th October, 2007 in English and Chinese languages, both texts having equal validity.
Zhou Ji John Denham
Minister Secretary of State for
Innovation, Universities and Skills
For the Ministry of Education of For the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills on behalf of
The People's Republic of China the Government and Devolved Administrations of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Annexe 1 Detailed activities and outcomes under the current MoU on higher education collaboration
1. The most recent Memorandum of Understanding on Sino-UK Strategic Collaboration in Higher education Development and Reform was signed in Beijing in July 2004 by Vice Minister Zhang Xinsheng of the Ministry of Education by Professor Howard Newby of HEFCE.
2. The two sides noted that the following activity has been carried out under the 2004 MoU:
a. Sino-UK e-Learning Programme (eChina-UK). The aim has been to share experience in the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for distance and flexible learning and to develop and pilot innovative distance education courseware in selected subject areas. A total of 9 UK and 11 Chinese universities have collaborated on the development, evaluation and delivery of a wide range of e-based teacher training modules and the training of e-tutors. A book of professional papers on e-learning and Sino-UK collaboration in education has been published. The programme has led to increased understanding of the constraints and affordances of online learning, especially for teacher training; deep mutual understanding and appreciation of each other’s varying perspectives; and the potential for significant further innovation and change. This programme has been delivered by HEFCE, the Ministry of Education, and selected UK and Chinese Universities.
b. Leadership Development Network Programme. This exchange scheme began in 2004 and has run over three annual phases. It has provided opportunities for 35 UK Pro Vice-Chancellors and Vice Principals and 35 Chinese Vice-Presidents to learn about each other’s practices and develop their leadership skills. This takes place through structured workshops, exchange visits to partner HE institutions and self-directed research of a study topic. It has opened up further opportunities for networking and collaboration between the two countries. This project has been delivered by British Council, the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education and the China Education Association for International Exchange, and supported by HEFCE in partnership with UK and Chinese universities.
c. National Policy on Higher Education Management. This project has brought together key higher education experts and researchers from China and England to study and compare the higher education management and governance systems in the two countries. The three-year project began in 2005 and covers areas of mutual concern such as employability, the role of universities in regional development, life-long learning and the role of intermediary bodies. The lead institutions in the project are: the National Centre for Education Development and Research of the Ministry of Education (NCEDR), HEFCE and British Council.
d. Science Park Collaboration. The aim was to strengthen relations between the university science park associations in the two countries. Two training programmes in 2004 provided training to over 50 Chinese science park managers. A workshop was held in Beijing in March 2006 at which a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the China University Science Parks Association (CUSPA) and the United Kingdom Science Park Association (UKSPA). The project was sponsored by the Ministry of Education and the British Council in partnership with the UK Science Park Association and the China Association of University-based Science Parks.
3. Both sides noted that higher education topics and issues have formed an important component of annual Ministerial-level Education Summits held between the two countries.
4. A Higher education forum was held at the second Education Summit in London on 4 April 2006. This was attended by UK Minister for Higher Education and Lifelong Learning Bill Rammell, Chinese Vice Minister Zhao Qinping and the Chinese delegation and representatives from UK organizations and English universities. Areas of focus were the internationalisation agenda in HE and HE-industry developments in China and the UK.
5. The two sides noted other higher education activity taking place under the Education Summit framework:
• Mutual recognition of academic degrees in higher education
In February 2003 an agreement was signed in Beijing by Chinese Minister Chen Zhili and UK Minister Margaret Hodge to facilitate the mutual recognition of academic degrees awarded in both countries.
• Sino-UK Scholarships for Excellence. In February 2005 an agreement was signed in Beijing by Chinese Vice Minister Zhang Xinsheng and UK Minister Kim Howells to establish an international postgraduate research scholarship scheme, entitled “Sino-UK Scholarships for Excellence”.
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