E-benchmarking processes have now been put in place to support collaborations with TVET providers in China.

UK NARIC is now in detailed talks with over 40 colleges in China to support their efforts in internationalisation – a requirement of China's national 'Double High' college development programme.

UK NARIC benchmarking of specialist vocational courses to international standards is about to begin with a review of four subject areas at Harbin Vocational & Technical College. Video briefings on internationalisation and preparing for benchmarking have now been held with Harbin, with Zibo Vocational Institute and with Chengdu Textile College.

E-conferencing and virtual site visits are being utilised. This allows the planned benchmarking of qualifications in China's vocational colleges to proceed, despite restrictions and quarantines.

This is a large-scale collaboration programme with the China college sector, and offers the potential for new international partnerships, exchanges, and articulation agreements. The raising of standards will benefit the economy and learners.

There will be more on this ongoing programme in future editions of this newsletter.