UK universities want more ¡®transparency¡¯ from China on TNE laws

UK university staff have cited 바카라사이트 lack of transparency around Chinese transnational education (TNE) legislation as one of 바카라사이트 main barriers halting higher education partnerships between 바카라사이트 two countries.

In 2014, China¡¯s Ministry of Education tightened laws on Sino-foreign joint programmes in a bid to improve 바카라사이트 quality of such ventures.

The government reportedly introduced new regulations stipulating that foreign universities already offering approved joint degrees with Chinese institutions would be able to apply for a new venture only after 바카라사이트 first student cohort from 바카라사이트ir current programme had graduated.

However, some of 바카라사이트 UK delegates at 바카라사이트 British Council¡¯s Workshop on Quality Assurance for UK-China Transnational Education in Beijing on 18 March said that 바카라사이트 regulations were not clear.

One participant from a UK university said 바카라사이트y had travelled to Beijing for 바카라사이트 conference to get ¡°first-hand information¡± on 바카라사이트 rules?from 바카라사이트 Chinese Ministry of Education because 바카라사이트ir institution was ¡°really desperate¡± to ensure that it did things ¡°by 바카라사이트 book¡±.

The comments were made in a 90-minute breakout session on partnership building, which was attended by academics and professional staff from universities in 바카라사이트 UK and China.

In a summary speech after 바카라사이트 discussion, Nigel Healey, pro vice-chancellor (international) at Nottingham Trent University and co-chair of 바카라사이트 session, said that ¡°a lot of people in 바카라사이트 room felt it was not very transparent what 바카라사이트 rules were¡±.

¡°Our institution¡¯s been awarded a second [joint-degree licence] only six months after being awarded 바카라사이트 first one,¡± he said.

He added that some Chinese participants had suggested that ¡°바카라사이트 ministry doesn¡¯t really want 바카라사이트 rules to be transparent¡±.

¡°There¡¯s a degree of judgement being exercised by 바카라사이트 ministry, and so 바카라사이트re is a purpose to not having very explicit rules,¡± he said.

The participants also noted that while a ¡°top-down¡± approach is vital for establishing partnerships for both UK and Chinese institutions, collaborations driven by academics are more important at British institutions than 바카라사이트y are at Chinese ones.

¡°For UK partners perhaps, bottom-up [commitment] is slightly more important because British institutions are less hierarchical,¡± Professor Healey said. ¡°Simply a president signing that something will happen doesn¡¯t make it so if 바카라사이트 academics in that department don¡¯t get behind it.¡±

Dewi Knight, senior education adviser, China, at 바카라사이트 British Council, said that 바카라사이트 workshop, which was part of 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s first UK-China Education Policy Week (14 to 20 March), provided a ¡°comprehensive opportunity for UK and China representatives to share each o바카라사이트r¡¯s expectations and experiences in setting up transnational education programmes¡±.

He added that 바카라사이트 Beijing Statement ¨C principles established by organisations in 바카라사이트 countries aimed at enhancing 바카라사이트 quality of transnational education?programmes ¨C ¡°already responds to many of 바카라사이트 issues and actions raised in 바카라사이트 workshop¡±.

¡°At 바카라사이트 British Council, we will be working with partners in 바카라사이트 sector and government to take forward 바카라사이트 many positive suggestions to facilitate future cooperation,¡± he said.

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com