It is true that both the UK and China have set skills training as a priority and have put in place strategies  to guide their vocational education sector through these challenges.  

 

Also, both countries believe that it is more important than ever to work together to take full advantage of each other's knowledge and experience to meet  these challenges. 

 

Yet both countries are experiencing chronic skills shortages in key sectors of their economies.

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It is fair to say that cooperation  in vocational skills training is not as well developed as those partnerships involving UK and Chinese universities.  Our universities are much better placed to create and sustain international partnerships.

 

The reasons for this mismatch are complex but can be partially explained by:

 

• limited resources;

• frequent changes in government policy and structure; 

• the changing dynamics of the labour market;

• tighter control from local and central government;

• parity of esteem.

 

 But it doesn’t have to be like this!  

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Many UK organisations such as the British Council, TVET, UKNARIC etc are working hard with their Chinese partners to raise the profile and value of VET partnerships.  There are limitless opportunities for vocational partnerships between the UK and China.

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Creating sustainable partnerships and collaborative working is not easy   Yet the rewards are immense.  For every one that fails, there are probably 10 that will succeed and go on to produce the desired outcomes. 

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The key to a successful partnership is a solid foundation.