Education opportunities involving universities in China and Charles Sturt University were very much on the agenda when Cr Jess Jennings visited China recently in an effort to forge links for Bathurst.
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Cr Jennings’ two-week trip was self-funded as a private consultant and also as a councillor.
He travelled from one end of China to the other, attending 25 meetings in 14 days.
During his time in China he met up with Professor Heather Cavanagh Pro-Vice Chancellor (International Education and Partnerships) Charles Sturt University, who was there representing the university, and Kate Baxter, CEO of the Western Institute of TAFE.
Cr Jennings described the trip as brilliant.
“It was the first time I have been to China and to have such strong access and such meaningful meetings really was incredible,” he said.
Cr Jennings travelled to China with a company that organises trade delegations. They facilitated all his meetings.
“You have to rely on agents like that,” he said.
“You can’t meet with anyone in China without an introduction.”
Cr Jennings took with him a ‘Welcome to Bathurst’ booklet which had been translated into Mandarin, along with a pictorial promotion of the city, and a large number of Bathurst 200 pins. He said these went down extremely well, as did pictures of the white wallaroos.
Cr Jennings said he had been in contact with Prof. Cavanagh prior to his trip and it was great to work with her once he arrived.
He said there was a real advantage that came from council supporting CSU in accessing Chinese markets in education.
Cr Jennings said he and Prof. Cavanagh spent their time getting across the message that attending CSU in Bathurst was desirable because students receive a high quality education in a safe environment.
Those they met were shown that CSU was more affordable than the big universities; it provides a healthy environment with lots of sport and recreation facilities; and it is not flooded with overseas students, which would encourage Chinese students to learn more English and absorb the Australian culture. They explained this would lead to a much better student experience.
CSU has been developing promotional material about the cities where it has campuses.
“Bathurst was the first cab off the rank,” Cr Jennings said.
“It is titled ‘Study in the Real Australia’ to stress the attractiveness of regional towns for study.”
CSU has been offering programs in China for the past 15 years.
Prof. Cavanagh said CSU was committed to growing its international students, focusing on the Bathurst and Albury campuses.
“This will bring added benefit, not just to the universities, but to the towns,” she said. “It will lead to increases in spending, tourism, industry and commerce.”
“Links with China can also help to address many workforce shortages and grow Bathurst’s reputation as an education centre nationally and internationally.
“There are opportunities through student exchanges, teacher exchanges, and collaboration on research which, in time, will forge stronger links between the two countries,” Prof Cavanagh said.
She added that short education programs can become a major attraction for tourism industries, because the idea of doing short courses of study while enjoying working holidays are very popular in China at the moment.