Experiencing UK-China education

14:16, May 08, 2013

Sue Milner, Director of Education at the British Council China, speaks at the 2013 UK-China Student Forum at Peking University in Beijing on Tuesday, May 07, 2013. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

The 2013 UK-China Student Forum was held on Tuesday at Peking University. As a part of the "Dialogue with the World" program, the forum aimed to create an international platform for Chinese youth to connect to the rest of the world.

The 2013 UK-China Student Forum forms part of the wider Generation UK project.

Sue Milner is the director of education at the British Council China.

"The goal of the forum is to inspire meaningful dialogues and exchange of ideas between students. Moreover, our image is to draw more attention to students' opinions and help raise the awareness of most of the public about the importance of possessing a global outlook and international experience."

The forum discussion centered on the theme of international education.

Li Yushan, who is majoring in international studies at the China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing, was a member of the forum. She talks about the differences between China and the UK focusing on the exchange program.

"Students from the UK say it's compulsory for them to study aboard if they are language majors. And they have many opportunities to go aboard or they can choose to study or spend one semester in Korea, China or Japan. But in China, the students have fewer opportunities to go abroad and experience the education system in other countries."

Sabrina Borgatti is from the University of Exeter in the UK. She tells what she thought about China's education system.

"The impression I've got is that Chinese education is rigid. Perhaps we do a lot of diverse ranges of learning and experiences. But I am not actually sure when I am going to a class at a university, I will be able to see how Chinese teach, which should be interesting. "

As this is Borgatti's first visit to China, she expects to gain a taste of student life and education in China and compare it to her own experience as a student in the UK. She said she looked forward to participating in the forum and discussing the importance and impact of international education in a globalized world.

Over the last decade, the flow of students between the UK and China has continued to grow. And each year, China offers more study opportunities for foreign students.

Nowadays, there are more than 120-thousand Chinese students studying in the UK and about 4,000 UK students studying in China.

Dong Xia is deputy secretary-general of the All-China Youth Federation.

The overseas students are a main strength in promoting cultural exchange and play an important role in improving ties between the two countries.

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