UKGovernmentProsperityFundinChinaEducation20162017.pdfVIP

UK Government Prosperity Fund in China: Education 2016/2017 UK Government Prosperity Fund in China: Education Reform Pilot Projects 2016/2017 Overview In November 2015, the UK Government announced a ￡1.3 billion Prosperity Fund over the next five years to promote the economic reform and development needed for growth in partner countries. As well as contributing to a reduction in poverty in recipient countries, the reforms are expected to create commercial opportunities for international businesses and institutions, including those from the UK. The role of the Prosperity Fund is set out in the UK Government’s Strategic Defence and Security Review and also in the UK’s overarching aid strategy ‘Tackling Global Challenges in the National Interest’. Engagement and partnership with China will be an important part of the Prosperity Fund’s work, and the education sector will be one of the areas of focus of the Fund’s work in China. Education development and reform in China is entering a new era following the 2016 publication of the country’s 13th Five Year Plan (2016-2020). Ambitions include new universities of applied technology, commitment to a world class higher education system, a greater focus on entrepreneurship and employability, reducing educational inequalities, and skills development to meet changing workforce and economic demands, all built on a consolidation of progress in compulsory school education. Pilot projects will inform the design, development and implementation of a prospective, large-scale Prosperity Fund education programme in China over the subsequent years of the Prosperity Fund (2017-21). Implementation of pilot projects will need to start no later than October 2016 to be completed by January / February 2017. The proposal process is being jointly managed by the British Council and the Foreign and Commonwealth