14 June 2011
The Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) and the Chinese Ministry of Education (MoE) have agreed to an historic Joint Work Plan during the 4th meeting of the Australia–China Joint Working Group on Education and Training Cooperation that was held on Monday 23 May 2011. The Joint Work Plan sets out key priorities for the bilateral education relationship for 2011–2013. Priorities include supporting increased collaboration between universities, encouraging the development of joint PhD programs, promoting collaboration in quality assurance and supporting executive leadership programs in tertiary and vocational education.
Seventeen senior government officials from the MoE and other Chinese education agencies travelled to Australia for the meeting. The delegation was led by Mr Du Yubo, China’s Vice Minister for Education. Vice Minister Du is China’s second most senior education official, second only to Education Minister, His Excellency Yuan Guiren. This was his first official overseas visit in his capacity as Vice Minister for Education, demonstrating the importance China places on the education relationship with Australia.
During his time in Australia Vice Minister Du and his colleagues met with Australia’s Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, Senator the Hon Chris Evans MP. Senator Evans reflected on his visit to China late last year and noted the importance of the education relationship between Australia and China as has been demonstrated by the many recent visits by Australian and Chinese officials.
Following the meeting with Senator Evans at the Parliament House, the Chinese delegation was welcomed to DEEWR by Mr Robert Griew, Associate Secretary, for the Joint Working Group meeting.
During the meeting, government and sector representatives from Australia and China discussed education reforms including higher education, quality assurance initiatives, vocational education and training, and changes in the international education environment. The meeting culminated with the signing of the Joint Work Plan that identified a number of areas for cooperation.
Green skills and sustainable technologies were highlighted as an important area for collaboration and the plan features a commitment from both countries to support a joint Skills for Sustainability Conference planned to be conducted in China in late 2012.
In the schools sector, both countries agreed to explore mechanisms to promote the teaching of Chinese languages in Australian schools and to explore options for Chinese school leaders, principals and teachers to travel to Australia for professional development programs.
Encouraging more students from Australia and China to study in each other’s countries is a core component of the Joint Work Plan. Australia hosts more international students from China than any other country and during the meeting Mr Colin Walters, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Education International, highlighted significant reforms in Australia to ensure a safe and quality education experience for these students.
Mr Walters also expressed the benefits to both countries from greater student mobility and encouraged more students and scholars from Australia to study in China. In recognition of the importance of student mobility, the Discover China Scholarships program pilot has been established to provide 100 scholarships worth $2500 each to Australian universities to enable Australian university students the opportunity to participate in semester exchanges to universities in China. This initiative was welcomed by the delegation and the MoE agreed to explore the possibility of a similar initiative in China.
The 4th meeting of the Joint Working Group was heralded as a great success in Australia and China, signifying the strength of education ties between both countries.
Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplaces, Senator the Hon Christopher Evans (centre), Australian
Education International CEO, Mr Colin Walters (fourth from left), and Minister Counsellor (Education) in Beijing,
Mr Iain Watt (fourth from right), met with Vice Minister of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Mr Du Yubo (fifth from right)
and colleagues at Parliament House, Canberra
Vice Minister Du Yubo (left) and Associate Secretary Robert Griew (centre) sign the Joint Work Plan on Cooperation in Education and Training
between the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China and DEEWR while Mr Iain Watt (right) looks on
The 4th meeting of the Australia China Working Group on Cooperation in Education and Training