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China and Scotland
07/04/2008
New Sino-Scottish PhD scholarships are just one part of a new education partnership between Scotland and China set out under a new Memorandum of Understanding between the countries.
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop met with China's Vice Minister of Education, Wu Qidi, to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today in Beijing.
The MOU establishes formal strategic Sino-Scottish collaboration across a number of different areas, including:
- promoting Chinese language and culture in Scottish schools, taking forward language immersion courses and visits for Scottish teachers in China and establishing relationships to allow Chinese pupils to learn about Scotland
- establishing a programme of regular undergraduate summer schools between Scotland and China including exploring a possible of a reciprocal arrangement in Scotland for Chinese students
- agreeing to develop Sino-Scottish scholarships for PhD studies to exploit business/university links and work towards the delivery of science PhDs. As part of this PhD students could take part in study in each other's countries
- focusing research collaboration on sectors such as life sciences and clean energy as an initial step to stimulating greater partnership working between academics in Scotland and China
- exploring ways in which the benefit of Scotland's unique experience in the quality enhancement of higher education might aid the Chinese in the expansion of higher education in China
Ms Hyslop said:
"This partnership formally recognises our joint desire to work together for the sake of our young peoples' education and the benefits that brings to both countries' economy and society.
"Scotland and China both have a proud tradition of learning. Now, we want to learn from each other and together develop our education programmes so they are ready to meet future challenges.
"In an increasingly globalised world our students will benefit from not only from our collaborative education development which will recognise the needs of the global economy, but also from an internationally-focussed education.
"We are also very proud that almost 5,000 Chinese students already study at Scotland's universities. We are keen to see more Scottish students coming to China, to build long-lasting links between our two countries.
"Scotland and China are looking to the future of education, and to the future benefits this will bring to all our people."
This MOU builds on the education collaboration that has taken place between Scotland and China since the first Scotland-China education MOU was signed in January 2005.
The Education Secretary is visiting China from April 6-12.