MSP Allan Wilson
- Ardrossan – Shanghai Exchange - 17th May 2004
A visit to the Scottish
Parliament 18 months ago by a delegation from Shanghai Qingpu First Middle
School in China has led to a strengthening of local links with Ardrossan
Academy.
Local MSP Allan Wilson has received a letter from Head Teacher Wang Xuecai
promoting the process for further exchange between students and teachers
from China and Scotland following an exchange visit by Ardrossan Academy to
Qingpu.
“The Chinese greatly value the benefits of the Scottish Educational system
to such an extent that they recently concluded a ground breaking deal with
the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) and Chinese Education Ministry to
accredit Scottish HND’s in 16 Chinese Universities,” said Mr Wilson.
“Support for the ‘sister-school’ project here and in Shanghai promotes
greater educational and cultural exchange between our two countries,
particularly among young people, and that can only augur well for the
future” said Mr Wilson.
“These initiatives help put Scotland on the map in a country undergoing
unprecedented economic change and predicted to be the world’s largest
education market by 2015 and the third largest economy by 2035.”
“The SQA initiative and school exchanges are win-win scenarios with students
in China benefiting from gaining HNDs in their home country while our
Universities and colleges benefit from attracting these same students to
study degree courses here in Scotland.”
“The population of Shanghai is the equivalent of Scotland as a whole and
Qingpu Province one of five in the city. If the Ardrossan Academy - Qingpu
High School link can be built on to incorporate other schools and colleges
in North Ayrshire then the potential for future growth in trade and other
cultural and educational exchanges are enormous.”
“Already I understand students in Ardrossan are studying Chinese language
and culture and I will be pressing on Education Ministerial colleague Peter
Peacock the importance of supporting and promoting similar links with other
schools in my constituency” concluded Mr Wilson.
