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LONDON – BEIJING WORLD CITY LINKS VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROJECT Julian Vennis (Director – World City Links). London-Beijing World City Links. PROJECT BACKGROUND. The Project twins vocational high schools in Beijing with London FE Colleges
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LONDON – BEIJING WORLD CITY LINKSVOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROJECTJulian Vennis (Director – World City Links) London-Beijing World City Links
PROJECT BACKGROUND • The Project twins vocational high schools in Beijing with London FE Colleges • It developed at the request of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission • Building on a successful schools links project • A formal agreement was signed in February 2006 between BMEC and AoC London Region • Initial Financial support from PMI
PROJECT BACKGROUND • Main objectives are collaborative activities for mutual benefit: • joint curriculum development • management/staff development • student exchanges • To improve the quality of the vocational education and relevance to economic, social and Olympic needs of the two cities • Increasing focus on the ‘LEST’ objectives- learning lessons on skills & employment benefits for 2012
COLLEGE LINKS • City and Islington College - Beijing Business School - Optics • College of North West London - Electrical Engineering College - Air Conditioning & English • Ealing, H’smith & West London - Chang Ping Vocational School - Airline Services & Catering • Greenwich Community College - Foreign Affairs School - Tourism • Newham College - Shang Mao School - Financial Services • Southwark College - Capital Railway Health School - Medical English • London College of Beauty Therapy - Jin Song School - Hair & Beauty
COLLEGE LINKS • Hackney Community College - Economic Management School - Financial Services • City of Westminster College - Manuft’ing & Technology School & St Francis Xavier SF College - Art & Design • Capel Manor College - Chang Ping Vocational School - Horticulture • Havering College - Shun Yi Technical School - Motor Vehicle • Harrow College - Shang Mao School - Food Technology • Uxbridge College (IT) - Construction & Materials School & College of NE London (Construction) • Barnet College - Jin Song School • Photography • South Thames College - National Culture & Arts School - Music Technology
LDA OBJECTIVES & TARGETS • Objectives include: • The Development of the capacity of London Colleges to link internationally • Development of curriculum projects to learn lessons from Beijing 2008 relevant to vocational education in London • Delivery of general skills training to London students on how to make the most of the games • Output targets for the 3 years from 2007 to 2010 are: • 450 students and 50 staff gaining at least six hours worth of skills development activity • 60% of these should be BAME, 50% women, and 10% disabled people
Contribution to Olympic Skills • Help prepare the City for hosting London 2012 • 30 Students help deliver in Beijing in 2008 • Staff and Students gain real understanding in how their partner college contributed to Olympics • Improved cultural understanding especially in hospitality and health sectors • Greater motivation to become volunteers
LDA TARGETS ACHIEVED Targets delivered: • 2007/08: • Total 210 (inc 37 staff) • BME Total 166 (inc 18 staff), 79% of the total • Women Total 132 (inc 27 staff), 63% of the total • Disabled Total 22 (21 students, 1 staff), 10% of the total • 2008/09: • Total 221 (inc 35 staff) • BME Total 157 (inc 10 staff) 71% of the total • Women 136 (inc 20 staff) 62% of the total • Disabled 11 (inc 1 staff) 5% of the total
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS • Many Reciprocal visits of managers to each other’s colleges • 18 colleges twinned from each City • Formal partnership agreements now signed by Principals in each college • Beijing office established with 8 subscribers • Joint curriculum projects well established • More specific projects now being established
JOINT CURRICULUM PROJECTS • For staff and students to learn about each other • To build trust and understanding • Examples include: • Sports vision • Fashion project • Workshops will share examples of other projects specifically connected to the Games
OTHER EMERGING PROJECTS • Optics course being delivered in Beijing • Supporting development of Western Cuisine • Delivery of UK qualifications • Staff development programmes in UK e.g. with CEL
LESSONS LEARNED • Good liaison / local links are essential • Support of Government in Beijing was critical • Principal level support in UK needed in first instance • Financial support of the British Council/PMI was really helpful in starting the project • LDA support has been crucial to continuation • Developing links with China takes time, patience and many visits • Communication is a constant challenge • Not every project will work • There has been real learning on how to support London 2012
LESSONS LEARNED • Student participant in a visit: • “One of the most important experiences of my life” • Staff participant: • “The best staff development I’ve ever done” • Student participant in college training: • “I’m going to volunteer for 2012 – it will help me get on in my life and my career”
London-Beijing World City Links THANK YOUXIE XIE