Bold British teens China-bound to build bridges

Ten bright and adventurous UK teenagers have just won the opportunity of a lifetime: a fully-funded, two-year boarding school scholarship to complete their A-levels in China.

Awarded through the Engage with China (EwC) Scholarship Programme, this marks the third cohort of a pioneering initiative launched in 2023 to foster China literacy and cross-cultural understanding among British youth.

In an era when some Western nations are distancing themselves from China, fostering a deeper understanding of the country is more crucial than ever.

A Life Changing Experience

"This experience has been amazing," says Elias Oyebisi from one of the earlier cohorts of teenagers, who is currently completing his first year in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province.

"It's incredibly fulfilling, and I'm so grateful. I'm now captain of the football team, a prefect and house captain."

Run by UK-registered educational charity Engage with China, the pioneering program currently supports 34 students across three campuses in Changzhou, Nanjing and Hangzhou - each less than an hour from Shanghai via high-speed rail. In addition to studying alongside Chinese peers, students enjoy immersive cultural experiences, from climbing the Great Wall to exploring Shanghai's vibrant cityscape.

Two students from the first pioneering cohort have received offers from Oxford and Cambridge, while others are heading to New York and top Russell Group universities, including Durham.

The UK curriculum contains virtually no content on China, despite its global importance. This creates a critical gap in our young people's education. Consequently, our fully immersive scholarship offers a rare and transformative experience.

No one typically sends their 16-year-old to study in China - so these students are bold, curious and globally minded. In an era of geopolitical tension, initiatives like this can help shift perspectives and build better international relationships.

Social Impact and Global Learning

More than 99 percent of EwC students come from UK state or grammar schools, many from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The program opens doors to life-changing academic and career opportunities. Meanwhile, the Chinese host schools - linked to world-renowned British institutions - benefit from greater diversity and English language fluency, both in classrooms and on the sports field.

One such school, AISL Harrow Haikou, is located just a kilometer from the beach on China's tropical island of Hainan, offering students the chance to sail and complete their Duke of Edinburgh expeditions in a tropical rainforest. Shanghai Concord Bilingual School, by contrast, offers an urban experience in the heart of the city's financial hub.

Michael Slotema, who was one of the first EwC Scholar graduates this summer, is heading to Oxford University.

"I don't know exactly where the future will take me, but after this, returning to China is definitely on the cards," he said.

"It's not just the big moments - the Great Wall, Shanghai - it's the friendships and the unexpected joy in everyday life that have made this experience so powerful. I'll be devastated to leave.

"It's truly been second to none and China has become a home away from home."

Strategic Vision for UK

Ralph Rogers, regional head of China, Geographical Directorate at the British Council, echoed Slotemas sentiments: "If the UK is serious about being globally competitive, equipping our young people to understand and engage with China is not optional.

"It's strategic. It's essential."

Lily Child, who was recently awarded a scholarship to study at AISL Harrow Haikou, wrote: "I am truly honored to be selected.

"This life-changing opportunity will shape my future in ways I can't yet imagine, and I promise to make the most of it."

Dr Paul Silverwood, the principal of Shanghai Concord Bilingual School (SCBS), said, "It is with great pleasure that we are able to partner SCBS with Engage with China to enable students from the UK to study in China.

"These scholars will enjoy an amazing cultural experience, increase their Chinese literacy, develop new friendships and build bridges for the future.

"We look forward to welcoming these young ambassadors into our community and watching them grow into global citizens."

By discovering China for themselves and absorbing so many new experiences through this immersive Engage with China Scholarship, these young people may well become the cross-cultural leaders the world needs.

The author is director, Engage with China. Engage with China is a UK registered charity building China literacy in UK schools. Since it was founded in 2018, EwC has taught more than 6,500 primary and secondary school pupils about China through its curriculum enrichment programs and annual, global, Model UN conference. 

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

If you have a specific expertise, or would like to share your thought about our stories, then send us your writings at opinion@chinadaily.com.cn, and comment@chinadaily.com.cn.