UCLan has announced it will work with a Beijing institution to help shape the educational reform agenda across vocational degrees in China.
UCLan has launched a joint research and development project with the Beijing College of Finance and Commerce (BCFC) to introduce British vocational degree apprenticeships and their curriculum standards into the Chinese higher education system.
The partnership aims to promote ‘exchange and experience’ sharing between the two universities, developing curriculum standards, assessment schemes and grading standards. It also seeks to strengthen the research and development cooperation on learning models, including apprenticeships and work-oriented curriculum standards.
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Paul Rowe, the director of international partnerships at UCLan, said: “UCLan is excited to be working on supporting the vocational agenda in this collaboration with BCFC. This programme aligns closely with UCLan’s mission to provide opportunities for all and widen participation in higher education, an ethos I know we share closely with BCFC.”
Dharma Kovvuri, the dean of UCLan’s Burnley Campus, is leading the project due to his expertise and long-standing work in this area.
He said: “We are excited to be part of this promising project but mindful of very different education systems in our two countries. We look forward to a great journey of mutual learning.”
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The two institutions have worked closely on several educational initiatives. UCLan lecturers have visited Beijing for academic exchanges, 14 graduates have studied undergraduate finance and business courses in Preston, and last year, the universities signed a memorandum of understanding on teaching and research cooperation.
Li Yuhong, the vice dean of BCFC, said: “This curriculum standard development project is important for the in-depth cooperation between the two universities.
“Through this cooperation, the curriculum construction will improve, and the academic progress of students will be promoted by improving the quality of the curriculum to benefit students.”
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