25 October 2011

Welsh Colleges link up with China

Further education colleges from across Wales are expanding their links with China through a new initiative launched by the First Minister Carwyn Jones whilst on a visit to the country.

The Wales-Chongqing Consortium brings together Welsh colleges to develop partnerships with businesses and institutions in Chongqing, including technical and vocational schools.  The Consortium will promote and develop international student recruitment as well as develop specialist vocational courses. It will also look to develop skills and training courses for Chinese companies.

The Consortium is managed by CollegesWales, the organisation that represents all the further education (FE) colleges and two FE institutions in Wales. The Consortium has appointed a full time member of staff based at the Welsh Government’s office in Chongqing to develop the collaboration.

Colleges in Wales are already highly active in China. Coleg Llandrillo has delivered training for Hospitality teachers in Chongqing Education College, Gower College Swansea is finalising a health and safety training courses for  mine managers with Chongqing Vocational Institute of Engineering, and the first Wales-Chongqing skills exchange took place in Chongqing earlier this year showcasing the talents of students and staff from both Wales and China.

The First Minister said: “The Wales-Chongqing Consortium will enable the member colleges in Wales to expand their work with technical and vocational schools in Chongqing, sharing their expertise, advice and experience with their counterparts in China.

“The appointment of a dedicated member of staff to represent the consortium in Chongqing will provide an extra boost to partnerships and friendships that already exist between colleges in Wales and here in China. I wish it every success for the future.”

Chair of CollegesWales David Jones said from Chongqing: “The aims of the Wales-Chongqing Further Education Consortium include harnessing the expertise of colleges in Wales to assist in the ambitious economic and social expansion of Chongqing by providing relevant training, tailored courses, and consultancy support.
 
“Wales and Chongqing have much to learn from one another and Wales’ learners, too, are set to benefit from the Consortium.

“The key focus for Chongqing is to raise the skills levels of its workforce including its burgeoning migrant population. The key focus for Wales is to establish an international mindset among our learners, broadening their horizons and improving their employment opportunities both in Wales and in the global marketplace.  This is an exciting moment for further education and their learners in Wales.”
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Media contact for CollegesWales International: Sylvia Davies on 029 2052 8384 or 07968
Welsh Government press office: 029 2082 1823 771913.
Notes:

1. CollegesWales represents all of Wales’ further education colleges.  It is an educational charity and a company limited by guarantee.  CollegesWales’ board of directors comprises college principals and chairs of corporations, appointed by member colleges.
2. CollegesWales (UK) International is a division of CollegesWales.  Its purpose is to work with other countries to offer more opportunities to learners, to broaden their horizons and raise their aspirations.
3. In June 2011, eleven of Wales' further education colleges formed a Wales-Chongqing Further Education Consortium as part of CollegesWales (UK) International.
4. The further education institutions that comprise the consortium are: 

• Bridgend College
• Cardiff and Vale College
• Coleg Gwent 
• Coleg Llandrillo Cymru
• Coleg Harlech WEA (N) and WEA (S) 
• Coleg Morgannwg   
• Coleg Powys
• Deeside College
• Gower College Swansea
• Yale College Wrexham
• Ystrad Mynach College

5. The Consortium employs a Further Education Project Officer, Grace Tan, based at the Welsh Government’s offices in Chongqing: Wales Government Office, Room 2808, Metropolitan Tower, Zourong Road, Central District, Chongqing 400010, P.R. China.

6. In the photo, left to right: Grace Tan, Wales-Chongqing FE Consortium Officer; Qingyun Ma, Welsh Government office, Chongqing; Sun Weiping, Chongqing College of Electronic and Engineering; Hu Bin, Chongqing Education Commission; the Rt Hon Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales; David Jones, Chair of CollegesWales; Paula Middleton, British Council Chongqing; Gary Davies, Welsh Government.