Eight AISWA schools established partnerships with schools in the Xiacheng District Hangzhou during the 2014 China Study Tour in October.
In collaboration with the Confucius Institute at the University of Western Australia, the study tour aimed to provide school leaders with a greater understanding of Chinese culture, education and economic development and to explore possibilities for interaction between schools in both countries.
You can see highlights of the tour in our Gallery, which included sightseeing in Shanghai, numerous school and university visits in Hangzhou, as well as the Sino-Australian Principals Forum “Delivering 21stCentury Curriculum”.
With a new national curriculum for Chinese and WACE course for Chinese through three pathways: First, Second and Background Learners, the number of students learning Chinese in Australian schools is on an upwards trajectory. Having a partner school in China is highly beneficial for all schools to develop links with the cross-curricular priority of Asia and Australia’s Engagement with Asia and fundamental for schools that offer a Chinese language programme.
The school partnerships formed during the study tour include:
- Penrhos College Junior School & Hangzhou Jingdu Primary School
- Great Southern Grammar & Hangzhou Guancheng Middle School
- Lance Holt School &The Youth Centre of Xiacheng District, Hangzhou
- St Marks Anglican Community School & Hangzhou Dacheng Yuejiawan Middle School
- Dale Christian School & Hangzhou Jingcheng Experimental School
- Georgiana Molloy Anglican School & Hangzhou Dacheng Experimental School
- Strathalbyn Christian College & Hangzhou Shenglan Experimental School
- Goldfields Baptist College & Hangzhou Chunlei Middle School
AISWA schools interested in establishing similar partnerships should contact Curriculum Consultant for Languages, Kate Reitzenstein, who is able to provide advice on establishing individual memoranda of understanding and support in devising short, medium and long term goals to sustain the relationship. The Asia Education Foundation (AEF) also has an excellent site dedicated to sister school relationships with China. Visit their Sister School Guide - China.
