Chinese Government chooses Reading to advance teacher training
Release Date 21 February 2011
The University of Reading has been selected by the Chinese Ministry of Education (MoE) and the China Scholarship Council (CSC) to devise a programme which will improve the country's standard of teaching.
Reading is the only UK university to be selected for this prestigious new programme which is already underway. 14 Chinese teachers of maths, science, technology and languages are currently taking part in the six-month teacher development programme.
As well as spending time in local schools the Chinese teachers will receive various presentations from the University's Institute of Education (IoE) staff on evidence-based practice to see how teachers in England are trained. IoE staff will also act as supervisors to the Chinese teachers, helping them to make sense of their school experience and supervising a report that each delegate will write.
Four local schools - the Holt, Reading School, Maiden Erlegh and Kendrick are providing experience for the cohort under the supervision of the IoE.
Liu Xiao, a teacher of English from Rizhao No. 1 Middle School in Shandong, China, said: "We enjoy the learning here. The schools have made us very welcome and they work hard to accommodate our needs and interests. 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."
Mike Haddrell, Deputy Headteacher and mentor for the Chinese Advanced Teachers at Maiden Erlegh School, added: "We are very pleased to be associated with this high profile project which serves a number of our own development aims, including our endeavours to build international links for education and to celebrate cultural diversity."
The Institute 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 commented: "I am pleased that The University of Reading has been chosen as the only UK university to host the first cohort of Chinese Advanced Teachers. 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 IoE is one of the country's top providers in teacher training, with staff expertise recognized both nationally and internationally; the Chinese teachers will be working with the IoE's leading staff to discuss educational issues and exchange ideas to promote learning through more effective teaching.
Tony Macfadyen, the IoE's Director of Enterprise is co-leading the project. He 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 which is why I think we were chosen to host this exciting initiative."
The University of Reading has a long history of supporting education in China through the National Centre for Language and Literacy (NCLL) at the Institute of Education. Since 1999 nearly 1,000 school teachers from Wenzhou and the Western provinces have benefited from tailor-made residential teacher development programmes at the University, under the auspices of the CSC. Programmes range from one month to three months and participating teachers learn western teaching methods while immersed in British culture. NCLL also organizes a programme for university administrators from more than 100 of China's top universities.
The University of Reading is now working with Guangdong University of Foreign Studies on a new Masters programme in Foreign Language Education, to be delivered in China.
The University of Reading is currently undertaking a major refurbishment of its London Road campus, the original home of the University in the heart of Reading.
The £30 million investment in the University's academic infrastructure will create a new London Road home for the University's Institute of Education, which trains nearly 1,000 teachers every year. The Institute will move to London Road in Summer 2011.
Ends
For all University of Reading media enquiries please contact James Barr, Press Officer tel. 0118 378 7115 or email j.w.barr@reading.ac.uk