Study programme is expanded while work experience scheme helps students find work at UK firms
Education officials from China and Britain are to expand a scholarship programme to allow more students and scholars to study in each other's countries and strengthen educational links.
They also announced this month a new work experience programme to help Chinese graduates find work for up to a year in British companies.
Under the expanded Scholarships for Excellence programme, funding will be provided for 50 Chinese researchers and young scientists to carry out PhD and post-doctoral level research at British universities in the next academic year. The programme, launched last year in Beijing at the inaugural Education Summit, allows 20 researchers to study this year at five British universities - Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester, Edinburgh and Nottingham.
The Ministry of Education will cover living expenses while the British government, universities and corporate sponsors will cover tuition fees. The programme will also allow for five British researchers to study at Chinese universities.
Vice-Minister for Education Zhao Qinping and Britain's Education Minister Bill Rammell also announced that up to 1,000 Chinese university graduates in Britain would be able to gain experience by working with British companies for up to a year.
Under the new programme, British universities will provide orientation courses for the graduates and then help them find work placements.