China have specially selected the University of Reading to help improve the standard of teaching in the country.
The university was the only UK institution to be chosen by the Chinese Ministry of Education and the China Scholarship Council to help devise a new teaching programme which will help 14 Chinese teachers develop their skills over a six month period.
The teachers, who specialise in maths, science, technology and languages, will spend time in four local schools as well as receiving presentations from the University’s Institute of Education (IoE) on how teachers in England are trained.
Liu Xiao, a teacher of English from Rizhao No. 1 Middle School in Shandong, China, said: “This experience enables us to develop a good understanding of how schools work in England. I am sure this programme will help to advance education in China and promote communication and understanding between the two countries."
The IoE launched the programme at a recent event which was attended by the four schools, Mr Wang Huanxian, First Secretary Education Section, Embassy of P.R.China, and Professor Steven Mithen, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Internationalisation and External Engagement at the University of Reading.
Mr Wang Huanxian said: "Reading is a prestigious university and its teacher training and professional development programmes are of high quality. The University has developed successful partnerships with the Chinese Ministry of Education, the China Scholarship Council and local education authorities over the past years. This new programme will have the full support of the Chinese Embassy."
The University has a long history of supporting education in China which stretches back to 1999. Since then almost 1,000 school teachers from Wenzhou and Western-provinces have benefited from the University’s residential development programmes.
Tony Macfadyen, the IoE's Director of Enterprise who is co-leading the project, said: "The Chinese teachers can get the best of both worlds from working in schools, with great teachers and educational leaders, as well as here at the IoE benefiting from experienced staff who are leaders in the field of education. It's an all-round strong package."
