Pupils and teachers from schools across England are travelling to China in July for an eleven-day educational tour of the country to improve their Mandarin-speaking skills. Overall, 1,164 pupils and 164 teachers from 62 schools across England will attend this year’s visit.
From 30 June, they will travel in groups for an eleven-day immersive experience, taking part in intensive language and cultural activities and spending time with pupils in schools across China.
Students will travel to cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Xi’an, Chengdu, Kunming, Shenyang, Dalian, Hangzhou, Wuhan and Guangzhou.
The Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP) is delivered by UCL Institute of Education on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE) in partnership with the British Council and with the support of the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC).
Since 2016, the programme has played a key role in building a sustained pipeline of Mandarin speakers contributing their skills to the UK workforce, including in diplomacy and security.
Mandarin is the most widely spoken language globally and is considered a highly valuable skill for young people in the UK to learn. According to British Council research, Mandarin ranks as the second most important foreign language for the UK's global influence.
Katharine Carruthers, the Mandarin Excellence Programme’s Strategic Director from the UCL Institute of Education, said: “The Mandarin Excellence Programme intensive learning visit is a fabulous opportunity for students to experience China in person and advance their language skills. “This is an unrivalled opportunity which rewards Year 9 MEP students who have been learning Mandarin Chinese in school for the past 3 years, many of whom are from disadvantaged backgrounds. “The students will benefit from an unforgettable experience as part of their journey to becoming the next generation of fluent Mandarin speakers in the UK.”
Shannon West, the British Council’s Head of UK Schools, said: ‘This year, almost 1,200 students will benefit from this amazing opportunity to visit China and immerse themselves in its vibrant and dynamic culture, practising their Mandarin skills as well as their intercultural skills. We know from studies of previous trips that this unique experience will build life skills, confidence and resilience, motivate them to continue their studies, and create lasting friendships between people in the UK and China.’