Warwickshire and Shenzhen: Introduction by Judith Young, International Development Officer
For a week in October 2005 our headteachers were hosted by schools they had been matched with and our Chief Education Officer and myself met with Education and Government officials and visited schools and the local university. The hospitality we all received was generous and all of the group were impressed by the investment in education and schools that had been made. This, in a city which 25 years ago was a small fishing village and now boasts a population of nearly 10 million and an enviable economic annual growth rate of nearly 30%! We did all feel that we shared common values in education and that despite great cultural and historical differences we shared more similarities than differences.
We will be very excited about prospects and plans for future collaboration. Schools have developed excellent links and their collaborative plans will be formalised in Memoranda of Understanding between schools. Plans are in place to introduce Mandarin into the curriculum, have teacher and student exchanges, share expertise in teaching and learning, and of course to progress elinks which are already in place.
Similarly a Memorandum of Understanding between Warwickshire County Council and Shenzhen has recently been signed. The blossoming friendship was further progressed with a visit to Warwick on Sunday 20 November 2005 of the Deputy Mayor of Shenzhen, the Deputy Director of the Education Bureau, in a delegation of 11 civic and education leaders. We also invited senior representatives from Warwick university and elected members from WCC to underline our commitment to a wider partnership base to our links and collaboration with Shenzhen.
This year, 2006, will see a return visit to Warwickshire of headteachers and senior representatives from Children's Services and Local Government to progress our co-operation. We will also, with partners from Warwick University, the FE sector, schools, business and the wider community, be in a favourable position to apply for 3 year funding from HSBC bank and the DfES to establish sustainable and wider Area to Area links.
We very much look forward to continuing this journey of friendship and mutually beneficial collaboration.
For more information contact:
Judith Young
International Development Officer
Warwickshire County Council
Children, Young People and Families Directorate
Saltisford Office Park
Ansell Way
Warwick
CV34 4UL
Tel: 01926 742171
Fax: 01926 742083
Email: internationallearning@warwickshire.gov.uk