China

 

 

 

 

 

China’s rise is a defining feature of our times. China has a central role in international affairs. Its impact on the UK is already great and will continue to grow. 

 

Cultural relations enable the UK to build ties of mutual familiarity and mutual benefit with China. They connect our people and allow us to better understand each other’s cultures.

 

 

Our work sharing English, education, arts and skills and many years of in-country experience are well suited to China’s development goals: to expand the services sector, build a knowledge-based economy and cultivate creativity and innovation. 

 

The British Council generates economic opportunities and opens new markets for the UK in higher education, social enterprise, the arts and English language teaching in China. 

 

We respond to Chinese people’s growing appetite for international opportunities by promoting the UK as a desirable place to visit, study in, invest in and live in. 

 

 

Throughout China, we forge partnerships between higher education institutions, government and businesses that support the UK’s ambitions in international education, research and student recruitment.

 

Our arts programmes in China showcase the quality, breadth and innovation of British creative industries and open new markets and opportunities for the UK cultural sector in China. 

 

We support China’s rapidly-developing social enterprise sector by promoting UK best practice and building partnerships between British and Chinese social entrepreneurs.

 

Our work in language teaching and learning delivers better quality teaching and learning of English in China and supports learning of Mandarin in schools throughout the UK.  

 

 

China is forecast to become the largest economy in the world by 2016 and continues to experience high levels of economic growth of over 8% per annum. By 2030, China is forecast to be home to two-thirds of the world's middle class.

 

The British Council-managed UK Now festival is the largest celebration of UK arts and culture ever held in China with hundreds of events in 17 cities over eight months. UK Now is showcasing the UK as a powerhouse of creative thinking in dance, design, film, literature, music, fashion, theatre and the visual arts.

 

There are 300 million learners of English in China seeking quality English teaching, online learning and qualifications.  

 

Our English teacher training programme has directly benefited more than one million students in the last two years. Last year, our online English learning materials were accessed by an estimated 12 million unique users.

 

In 2011, we administered more than 500,000 UK tests and qualifications in China. For many applicants this is the first step to studying in the UK.

 

90,000 Chinese students now study in the UK, contributing £2.25 billion annually to the UK economy. Another 15,000 Chinese students study on UK programmes in China. Four million unique visitors access our Education UK website annually

 

Since 2009, we have promoted UK best practice to some 580 social enterprises in China.