Yuzhuo Cai CEREC , University of Tampere 25.4.2014

1. Towards a new model of education cooperation with China--A solution by the Finn-Sino Education Cooperation Network YuzhuoCai CEREC, University of Tampere 25.4.2014

2. Main topics What is the network? How can the network help overcome the current challenges faced by Finnish educational institutions in cooperation with China?

3. What is Finn-Sino Education Cooperation Network? Open platform initiated by CEREC and FERC Governing/advisory board Executive body Operational units Public/free service Public funding, sponsorship, project funding Ambition to become Nordic-SinoEducationCooperationNetwork

4. Aims of the network To provide knowledge and information about both countries’ education practices and policy development To analyse the relevance of one's education system and education practices on the other To facilitate and support dialogues between key actors in both field To establish a database and network of key actors and resources in the field To educate Finnish Chinese education expert and Chinese Finnish education expert To team up interesting actors and apply external funding for ad hoc projects To provide tailor-made services To monitor the cooperation and develop quality assurance standards

5. Challenges in Finland’seducationcoopeartion with China Little knowledge about Chinese higher education Ineffective approaches to promoting Finnish higher education Lack of trust building with Chinese partners Lack of successful experiences of developing joint degree programmes with Chinese partners and particularly education export Lack of coordination between Finnish higher education institutions Insufficient motivation and commitment (especially on education export) Unclear vision on international cooperation and education export

6. The most essential problem Lack of cooperation and coordination among Finnish educational institutions at the national level

7. Solutions by the network High quality research in the field by highly competent teams Promotion of one Finnish brand and development of quality assurance system Network building mechanisms and information sharing channels. Studying existing cooperation cases Problems caused by the ineffective cooperation • Repetition in gaining basic knowledge about Chinese education • Ineffective market approaches and unaffordable marketing costs • Lack of information sharing and network building • Slow learning process in education cooperation with China

8. Twoexamples Stimulating national coordination trough quality assurance development: This is Finnish Education Capacity development trough training local experts.

9. ”This is FinnishEducation” • A quality assurance system for training Chinese educational professionals. • Capacitybuilding for Finnishtrainingproviders • Based on the understanding of both Finnish and Chinese education system as well as training practices, we will help Finnish education providers to develop their capacity and skills for training Chinese professional learners and list them as qualified operators under the “This is Finnish Education Training Series”. • Promoteonebrand and provideone stop shopping for Chineseclients • Meanwhile, we will promote the training series in China as a symbol for high quality education training programmes in Finland for Chinese customers. • So the benefits for Finnishtrainingproviders: instead of hunting for clients, the Chineseclientswillfindyou.

10. Sustainable solution by the network • Capacity building: Training more and more Finns to become Chinese education experts • Seminars/short term training • Research projects • MA and PhD education

11. We are now more confident as FERC (Finnish Education Research Centre) is joining the network!