An international partnership could lead to City of Bath College’s teaching methods being transported to China.
Eleven academic staff from Shanghai Technical Institute of Electronics and Information (STIEI) want to put into practice what they have learned during a three week exchange at the College.
The College has linked up with STIEI to gain an international outlook and share good teaching practice.
The visitors, who were mostly from STIEI’s Computer Applications Department, said they “learned new ways of teaching” during their teacher development course. They also got to observe a variety of lessons and meet with senior managers.
The teachers were specifically looking at how students at City of Bath College are assessed, how technology is used to communicate with students and the use of social media.
The return exchange visit will take place in October with a group of College staff visiting Shanghai.
STIEI IT tutor Sun Xiujuan said: “This trip has really broadened my horizons. The College has been a wonderful place for us to learn and I’m going to use what I have learned.
“We have learned so much from the very kind and helpful managers and teachers.
“The College is very different (compared to STIEI) and the teachers and managers have been very kind and helpful.
“Our students are forced to learn, but at City of Bath College it is more of a choice. People choose to learn and they enjoy it.
“The biggest difference for me is how students are assessed. The teaching and assessments are aimed more at independent learning. Everything is done to meet the students’ needs.”
Qiaoting Zhou, Deputy Director of STIEI’s Computer Application Department, added: “The College has a much wider range of students and everyone seems to learn from each other.
“We have students aged 18 to 22, but the oldest person at the College is 92, that’s amazing.
“The College has programmes of study suitable for everyone, everything is aimed towards the student. I have learned new ways of teaching which I will take home to China.”
The partnership was formed about a year ago when STIEI representatives first visited the College. International Development Manager Sandra Tavakoli and HE lecturer John Curry then visited Shanghai earlier this year.
Rob Sibley, City of Bath College’s Director of Development, said it was an honour to host the STIEI staff and praised them for their willingness to learn and ask questions.
He said: “The exchange visit has been a great learning experience for us all.
“We see this as the start of a blossoming relationship between two institutions. We very much want to continue to work together into the future.”
The STIEI visitors also had time for some sightseeing in the city, going on the open-top bus tour and visiting the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey and Jane Austen Centre.
They described Bath as “a beautiful city” which is “quieter and less crowded than Shanghai” with “cheaper shopping.”
The teacher exchange coincided with a visit of 22 STIEI students who were studying English and computing at City of Bath College.
Nine members of staff from Shanghai SIPO Polytechnic have also recently visited the College to formally launch a separate partnership.
