Organised by the Chinese Ministry of Education and the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange, the event marks an increasingly active approach by Chinese institutions hoping to attract students from other countries, but particularly from Britain.

In an interview with Times Higher Education, Cue Xiliang, president of the Beijing Language and Culture University, said that the university was searching for “opportunities to enhance links with students in the UK” and that the possibility of studying Mandarin at the university was “very attractive for UK students”, adding that UK students were “very good at learning Mandarin”.

However, the Chinese envoys acknowledged that the language barrier can be off-putting for many international students: “We did some research and the biggest (hurdle) is the language barrier for students from Europe”. To counteract this trend, institutions such as the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics are now offering students from abroad the opportunity to study in English.

Britain is currently the only country with overseas campuses in China, represented by Nottingham and Liverpool Universities, which, according to Joanna Burke, China Director for the British Council, means it has “a privileged status” in Chinese higher education. Lancaster University has recently announced that it will also be launching a campus in the country, which will be based in Guangzhou and work in collaboration with the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies.

The Chinese government has devised an education strategy running up until 2020, with a key theme being internationalisation, said Ms Burke, who also explained that there are government funded scholarships available for those wishing to study in China, an experience she herself undertook as a student.

This post is by guest contributor Nathaniel Forrester. Contact Nathaniel here.

Professor Dorothy Miell joins Edinburgh from the Open University, where she has been Dean and Director of Studies of the Social Sciences Faculty since 2005. Professor Miell holds a BSc and PhD in Psychology from Lancaster University. Her research focuses on understanding the social and communicative aspects of creativity — particularly in collaborative activities such as music making.

“I was extremely pleased to have such a strong field of candidates for this position. I warmly congratulate Dorothy on her appointment and look forward to welcoming her to Edinburgh and to working with her next year,” commented Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University.

Professor Miell will assume responsibility for leadership of the University’s largest and most diverse College, which comprises 11 Schools and over 13,000 students. She will take up post on 1 March 2010. Until then the College will continue to be led by Professor David Fergusson in his capacity as Acting Head of College.

“I’m delighted to have been appointed to this very exciting role in an institution with such a range of world class achievements. I look forward to working with colleagues in the College and across the University as well as with external partners, to contribute to the further development of such a vibrant academic community,” said Professor Miell.