British Council China would like to invite you to participate in a Secondary School Mission which will be held in Shenzhen, Chengdu, Dalian and Ningbo in October / November 2007.
The mission will support UK schools and colleges in promoting the UK school sector in the selected cities and will aim to achieve the following:
- to showcase the UK's excellence in the school sector and position the UK as the first choice for Chinese students in the selected markets;
- to provide information and opportunities for students and their influencers who wish to study / send their children to study school level qualifications (A-level, GCSE, etc.) in the UK;
- to provide UK institutions with a platform for setting up business links with relevant partners and recruiting Chinese students.
| Location |
Date |
Participation fee for Partnership members |
Participation fee for all other institutions |
Maximum number of participants |
| Shenzhen, China |
31 October 2007 |
GBP 600 |
GBP 1,200 |
15 |
| Chengdu, China |
2 November 2007 |
GBP 600 |
GBP 1,200 |
15 |
| Dalian, China |
4 to 5 November 2007 |
GBP 600 |
GBP 1,200 |
15 |
| Ningbo, China |
7 November 2007 |
GBP 600 |
GBP 1,200 |
15 |
The participation fee includes:
- venue hire;
- reception;
- networking meeting with local education contacts;
- Visit to local schools;
- event promotion through British Council channels, local newspapers, media and education contacts.
Please note that the participation fee does not include international or domestic travel, accommodation, subsistence or freight, except where stated.
With the rapid economic growth and 'one-child' policy, there are an increasing number of Chinese parents who can afford and choose for their children to study in an English environment from a very young age. This is shown by the increasing number of international and private schools in China, bi-lingual programmes undertaken, and various international exchange programmes at school level. Feedback analysis from visitors enquiring at British Council Information Centres, participants attending British Council marketing activities, the number of students sent via key agents, and the level of study chosen by Education UK web members all indicate that there is a steady and growing demand in studying school-level qualifications in the UK. The UK has been one of the most popular study destinations for its high quality, comprehensive quality assurance system, high visa success rate, and career prospects. In 2006 / 2007, the number of Chinese students taking school level qualifications in UK independent schools and colleges increased by nearly 100 per cent compared with the figure for 2000 / 2001. According to the statistic from the Independent Schools Council, the total number of Chinese students in independent schools for 2006 / 2007 was 2,345.
The main reasons for parents choosing for their children to study school level qualifications are to:
- improve students’ level of English;
- experience the western style of teaching, and live and develop their independent thinking and key abilities;
- create opportunities for students to further their studies abroad at first-degree level at high ranking universities.
The competition from other countries, especially Australia, Canada and the USA, is still fierce and the institutions from these countries are very active in the market and trying different ways to attract more Chinese students to their countries. We believe that the organisation of the Secondary School Mission in the selected cities will help boost the market and increase the UK’s market share in the school sector.
- Unique demographics: As a migration city set up in early 1980s, the past five years has seen a rapid expansion of middle school age students in Shenzhen. There are over 200 registered middle schools in the city with a student population no less than 0.2 million.
- Market demand: In 2006, IELTS candidature increased over 40 per cent and there will be around 20,000 candidates taking the academic IELTS in South China. Shenzhen ranks top in the biggest increase in cities. In terms of academic candidates' destinations, in Shenzhen, the UK is the top destination country followed by Australia, Canada and New Zealand. According to a survey conducted by Shenzhen University, 86.6 per cent of the Shenzhen middle school students wish to study abroad and 76.7 per cent of the university students wish to study abroad. Middle school students and parents account more than 40 per cent of the consulting service provided by key agents.
- Strong economy: Shenzhen has highest disposable income and GDP per capita in China; its GDP will reach Singapore's GDP by 2010. People here are financially sound; study abroad is generally affordable to normal families.
- Needs for people investment: Shenzhen is experiencing a switch to high-tech manufacture; now 50 per cent of Shenzhen’s industry is high-tech industry; 25 per cent of China’s high-tech exports are from Shenzhen. The high-tech industry nature will boost the needs for high quality personnel and investment on people development.
- General and economic advantages: As the capital of Sichuan province, the city of Chengdu has a long history of being the regional centre of economy and culture. Statistics show that the city’s local GDP reached CNR 738.51 billion (GBP 49.23 billion; 15:1) in 2005, an increase of 12.6 per cent over 2004, 2.7 per cent higher than the national average. Per capita disposable income of urban residents averaged 8,386 yuan in 2005, an 8.8 per cent increase over 2004.
- Local educational development: Alongside the economy, education is developing as well. Until the end of 2005, Chengdu has established a modern education system providing all sorts of courses. According to the 2005 yearbook, there are 1,186 schools of all kinds and at all levels, serving the needs for modern education of 1,868,000 students. There are 531 ordinary middle schools and 41 vocational schools providing secondary education to 586,000 students in Chengdu. Also, 765,000 students attend 589 primary schools to have their basic schooling.
- International exchanges: As the most developed city in Sichuan province, naturally, Chengdu took the lead in international co-operation and exchanges in the educational sector. Now, a total of 20 universities and more than 15 key middle schools have employed more than 200 teachers from other countries, such as the UK, the US, Canada and Australia, to teach various subjects.
- Market demand: Surveys among agents and students during our local events show that the UK is the first choice for local parents and students when considering studying abroad. While postgraduate study remains in a dominant position, the popularity of language, A-level and GCSE courses is increasing rapidly. Subject interests are becoming more and more diversified.
Recent surveys with agents and students in South West China showed that Chengdu ranked top in the volume of IELTS candidates in South West China in 2006, and the UK is the preferred destination country in Chengdu, followed by the USA, Australia, and Canada. About 73 per cent of middle school students in Chengdu wish to study abroad. Middle school students and parents account more than 40 per cent of the consulting service provided by key agents. Long-term and close school links have been set up between secondary schools in the UK and Chengdu. Exchange programmes and summer schools programmes have been organized in past years. Schools are very keen to develop more links with foreign counterparts.
- General and economic characteristics: Being called 'the Hong Kong of Northern China', Dalian is a key city in Liaoning province and is also one of the most famous and beautiful cities in North East Asia for tourism, finance and industrial and business development, with fabulous sea views, architecture, arts and a population of about six million. It is one of the '500 Best Environment Cities in the World' selected by the United Nations, and it also gained the 'Best Tourism City in China' award. It received 600,000 international tourism visitors in 2005, an increase of 15.4 per cent compared to 2004. The GDP of Dalian was 260 billion Yuan (Liaoning: 925 billion Yuan) in 2006, an increase of 16.5 per cent (Liaoning: 13.8 per cent) compared to 2005, and the GDP per capita is about 43,000 Yuan (Liaoning: 21,802; China: 15,973). These data clearly demonstrate the strong and rapidly developing economy in Dalian. Overseas study is affordable for many normal families in Dalian.
- Local education market development: There are 75 secondary schools in Dalian, with about 83,000 students and 154 further education colleges with about 76,000 students.
The local education authorities pay much attention to the secondary school development and send hundreds of students and teachers to the UK regularly for summer school programmes and other exchange projects.
There are currently 25 licensed agents sending students abroad in Liaoning, among which 11 agents are based in Dalian. According to the British Council’s agent survey conducted in 2007, about 850 students were sent by agents in Dalian to the UK in 2006 and 16 per cent were for A-level and GSCE study.
- Market demand: A recent survey among agents and students during our local events also showed that the UK is the first choice for local parents and students when considering studying abroad. While postgraduate study remains in a dominant position, the popularity of language, A-level and GCSE courses is increasing rapidly. Many agents are considering having A-level and GCSE courses as one of their business focuses. Subject interests are becoming more and more diversified.
Recent North and Central China IELTS showed that the IELTS candidature from Dalian increased over 37 per cent compared to data from last year. In terms of academic candidates’ destinations, the UK is the preferred destination country in Dalian followed by Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan.
Long-term and close business links were set up between secondary schools and colleges in the UK and in Dalian. They have initiated and organized many exchange programmes, JV programmes and summer schools programmes in past years. They are very keen to develop more links with foreign counterparts.
- The British Council’s marketing work in Dalian: Being a priority market, the Education Marketing team has successfully organised many events in Dalian in recent years including Education UK exhibitions, outreach promotional activities in partnership with various key market players, media gatherings, schools and agent visits / training, which reached over 8,000 people in our target audience.
- General and economic characteristics: Ningbo is a major port city on the Southeast Chinese Coast and economic center in the southern wing of Yangtze River Delta Region, with a population of 5.6 million. The Hangzhou Bay Bridge, connecting Shanghai and Ningbo, is scheduled to be in use in 2008. It will cut the distance from Shanghai to Ningbo by more than 320km, which shortens the travel time from four hours to two hours. The result is that Ningbo, with its port at Beilun, will be able to compete with Shanghai's port Pudong for international sea freight.
Enjoying sound conditions for economic development, the social economy of Ningbo has been developing rapidly since opening up to the outside world. In 2006, Ningbo's GDP per capita reached USD 6,568, while Zhejiang GDP per capita was USD 3,975. The average annual income for urban residents is USD 2,522 and for rural residents is USD 1,134. Nowadays, Ningbo has become an important industrial city and foreign trade port in east China, a key city and chemical industrial base in Yangtze Delta and an economic center of Zhejiang Province.
- International exchange: Being sister cities, Ningbo has established close links with Nottingham. The University of Nottingham Ningbo officially opened in September 2004, which is the first overseas campus of its kind in China with approval from the Chinese Ministry of Education.
- Market development: Economic strength in Ningbo has also led to great demand for overseas studies. There are five licensed educational agents based in Ningbo and quite a few of the active agents in East China region have also set up branch offices in Ningbo. This makes eight agent presences in Ningbo, compared with a total of 14 agents in Shanghai. Based on a recent agent survey, there has been a steady increase of students choosing A-level education and foundation course in the UK over the past three years. East China region IELTS data also shows that Ningbo is the fifth largest city where candidates are from.
There are 323,000 students studying in 304 academic secondary schools. 94.2 per cent of the junior middle school graduates enter senior secondary schools for further education.
The tentative programme for each of the venues is:
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Visit to one local secondary school |
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Lunch with local contacts (officials, agents, schools’ representatives) |
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Networking with agents and local schools representatives |
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Three-hour mini information day where institution representatives can meet with parents and students (there might be an opportunity to do a presentation) |
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Visas are required for UK passport holders. Other passport holders should check with their travel agent or contact the Consulate or Embassy of the country they plan to visit.
Cancellation fees will be charged for withdrawal from this event, as of the date of receipt of notice of withdrawal:
- 50 per cent of the full event cost for withdrawals received on or after 4 October 2007
- 100 per cent of the full event cost for withdrawals received on or after 17 October 2007
Notice of cancellation must be given by e-mail to educationuk.events@britishcouncil.org. You will receive a confirmation message within one week of your cancellation.
If the number of applications exceeds the number of places, selection will take place on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given in the following order:
- China Education UK Partnership members
- All other Education UK Partnership members
- All other institutions
After the application deadline has passed, if places are still available, institutions will be selected purely on a first-come, first-served basis, with no priority given to China Partnership members or other Partnership members.
Acceptance and rejection letters will be sent out by 20 September 2007.
The deadline for applications is 14 September 2007.
Please download, print out and complete the  application form (40KB) and send it to the British Council China co-ordinator by the application deadline. If faxing your application, please send the original by post or a scanned copy by e-mail to ensure that your application is received.
If you have any queries about this event, please contact the British Council China co-ordinator.
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