China-UK relations to build stronger joint education system

China's education minister Yuan Guiren said education cooperation between China and the United Kingdom is an important part of China's efforts to globalize education.

"To enhance education globalization, Chinese universities are accelerating their pace to go abroad," said Yuan.

"It is positive exploration of Chinese higher education institutions in setting up joint education programs and schools in developed countries and also another highlight in China-UK educational cooperation."

In September, Beijing Normal University and Cardiff University launched the Beijing Normal-Cardiff College. As home to a flagship dual degree program in Chinese studies, the new college allows students to study two years in Beijing and two in Cardiff.

"China-UK cooperation in joint schools started early and progressed smoothly," said Yuan during China Daily's interview ahead of President Xi Jinping's state visit to the UK.

The Ningbo-NottinghamUniversity was set up in 2004 and Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University was established in 2006, as the first batches of joint schools approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education.

Yuan said these trials have now become successful examples in this field.

"Secondary school students in Shanghai scored high in their first trial in PISA, hence drew global attention to China's basic education."

As of the end of August 2015, 17 China-UK jointly run education institutions and 240 joint programs have been established in China. Cooperation has not only happened in universities, but also in secondary schools. In 2014, China and the UK decided to select and exchange math teachers from Shanghai and the UK.

In June, a group of Chinese math teachers headed to classrooms in the United Kingdom primary schools in a program to share their successful teaching methods while improving educational cooperation between the two countries.

Up to 30 Shanghai teachers participate in the exchange, which starts in September, said Yang Weiren, director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Division at Shanghai Municipal Education Commission.

In the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's 2012 Program for International Student Assessment, which evaluates education systems worldwide, Shanghai students topped the ranks in math, reading and science while UK students ranked 26th in math.

Yang said the Shanghai teaching methods have helped students understand the structure of math and how numbers work.

"Since 2004, when the two countries established comprehensive strategic partnership, cooperation in all fields and at all levels has been continuously expanded and strengthened," Yuan said.

Educational cooperation between China and UK currently covers a wide range from basic education to higher education, of various forms and at various levels.