Old schools, new horizons:The lure of the East: Old schools, new horizons: The lure of the East CHAIR: Stephen Pollard President, Centre for the New Europe PANEL: Graham Able Master, Dulwich College Andrew Disbury Director of Education, China, British Council Barbara Harrison Chief Executive, GDST Barnaby Lenon Head Master, Harrow School


Old schools, new horizons: the lure of the East: Old schools, new horizons: the lure of the East Andrew Disbury British Council China


Andrew Disbury: Andrew Disbury British Council education strategy Market for students from China Market for students in China A “huge potential market”?


1. British Council education strategy: 1. British Council education strategy Operating as Cultural & Education Sections of Embassy & Consulates General Three main roles in Education Facilitating bi-lateral relations Partnering Chinese organisations in projects Marketing the UK to Chinese scholars and students Over-arching themes of employability, climate change, sport and creativity Geared to HMG’s priority of supporting UK economy and business Bill Rammell in China May 2006


2. Market for students from China: 2. Market for students from China 350 million young people under 18 Enrolment rate from Primary to Junior Middle 98% (2005) Enrolment rate from Junior Middle to Senior Middle 70% (2005) Enrolment from Senior Middle to HEIs 76% (2005) GDP first half of 2006 11% - urban middle class growing In 2005, the total official number of Chinese students who went abroad was 118,500. Of these c.13,000 came to UK (17% share) In 2006 ISC reported new enrolments as: Mainland China (1.3bn) 1,005 12% -1.40% Hong Kong (6m) 2,186 26.10% 7.80% Political and social disapproval of “youthification” of study abroad Mass expansion of domestic HE 98-05 to 5 million students p.a.


2. Market for students from China - competition: 2. Market for students from China - competition UK - 1,000 enrolments out of total student body c.60,000 US - no figures but informal sources indicate figure is low Australia - enrolments to private and public schools c.9,000 out of total c.89,000 “Education UK” Brand Launch Beijing October 2006


3. Market for students in China: 3. Market for students in China Chinese students almost exclusively enrol in domestic schools Foreign activity in Chinese education is regulated by law “International Schools” only allowed to recruit expat. children or Chinese children born/lived abroad Unlikely to change in the medium-term – 2007 is a political year China Summer School for UK children 2006


3. Market for students in China - competition: 3. Market for students in China - competition Beijing and Shanghai have opened some Chinese state schools to expat. children Some Chinese schools are adopting foreign-style curricula in the elective elements of Senior Middle School e.g. IB; A levels Reforms to the vocational sector in current 5-Year Plan Education UK Exhibition Art Class Beijing February 2006


4. A Huge Potential Market?: 4. A Huge Potential Market? Appropriate responses to political/social attitudes - promote IS as part of “Education UK”, focusing on quality and reputation Geographical diversification: agents report potential in places with high GDP growth or hidden wealth,  e.g. Jiangsu ( business), Shaanxi (coal), Heilongjiang (petrol) British Council “Middle School Mission” 2007 to develop B-2-B relationships to deliver on student recruitment in provinces with high potential Lord Coe at a Beijing Olympic Model School – both 50 years old!


4. A Huge Potential Market?: 4. A Huge Potential Market? Not a “huge potential market” A growing economic élite joining the political élite form a discrete niche market Partnerships form pockets of dependable provenance – with Chinese schools, with agents, with local education auhorities British Council China Education Staff 2006


Old schools, new horizons:The lure of the East: Old schools, new horizons: The lure of the East CHAIR: Stephen Pollard President, Centre for the New Europe PANEL: Graham Able Master, Dulwich College Andrew Disbury Director of Education, China, British Council Barbara Harrison Chief Executive, GDST Barnaby Lenon Head Master, Harrow School