Education sector invited to special Liverpool-Shanghai twinning celebration
Liverpool City Council is inviting Liverpool-based education partners to be part of a special business mission to China to mark the city’s 25th anniversary of its twinning with Shanghai.
The Council is planning to lead a high-level education business delegation to the city of Shanghai in June and has put a delegation pack together to provide partners with exclusive access to senior decision makers in government, business and academic networks.
The four-day mission will be promoted and supported by Liverpool, Shanghai and UK governments, including the British Consulate General and the British Council in Shanghai, as part of the city’s 25th anniversary celebrations which kick off this weekend with the Lunar New Year celebrations.
The mission aims to:
- Support Liverpool education, learning and skills providers and businesses to access the Chinese market and to export internationally
- Facilitate international youth travel and promote Liverpool as the place to visit, study and invest
- Strengthen the Liverpool-Shanghai innovation partnership through Higher Education networks
Depending on the make-up of the delegation, the programme could potentially include:
- An education agent workshop
- International school visits
- University collaboration
- An East China education stakeholder roundtable
- High level meetings with the Shanghai Government and education authorities
- Partner-led activities
Liverpool City Council aims to secure external sponsorship, as well as UK central government funding to cover the costs of business events and meetings, local transport and interpretation.
Delegates will be expected to cover their own international and domestic travel in China, accommodation, subsistence and other extra costs such as bespoke interpretation services.
All parties interested in participating in this education mission must submit an application form. Local businesses need to be able to demonstrate a minimum of a 24-month trading record.
To create a bespoke programme for delegates, organisations will need to apply by Friday, 1 March.
There will be an online mission briefing in March and a pre-departure event in May.
If you would like more information about the mission, or to register your interest, please contact the Liverpool City Council Business & Economic Support Team: business.support@liverpool.gov.uk, by Tuesday 27th February.
Councillor Nick Small, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet member for Growth and Economy, said: “Liverpool’s relationship with Shanghai is very special, not least because of our historic connection through Europe’s oldest Chinese community.
“But our relationship is not just rooted in the past, it has prospered over the past 25 years, evidenced by the close partnerships between our respective universities and the opportunities these academic connections can bring to our local business community.
“This special delegation to Shanghai in June provides a great platform to boost our existing links with Shanghai in education, trade, culture, tourism, sports and community exchanges, as well as helping to identify new partnership opportunities in targeted areas.
“It’s a unique opportunity to get exclusive access to decision makers and network at the highest level with British and Chinese agencies.”