From 2nd-5th July 2023, the 8th Cambridge International Education Seminar's session on Basic Education was successfully held. This event was co-hosted by Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge, in collaboration with the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), and International Education Association Shanghai ; and was organised by CL Global Academy. 

Exploring the theme: "Talent Cultivation and Future Educational Development in the Age of Digitalisation" - the seminar brought together education experts, principals, distinguished professors, and accomplished professionals from both China and the UK. The main goals of the seminar were to promote international exchange and collaboration in education, as well as to explore strategies to enhance students' skill development and academic achievements.

Notably, the event welcomed 10 distinguished principals and heads of international departments from Shanghai, Beijing, Suzhou, and other urban centres across China. 

Basic Education Conference of the 8th Cambridge International Education Seminar

Spread across three days, the event featured modules like the Cambridge Experience, Future Education, and Enhancing Students' Academic Competitiveness. Each module showcased keynote speeches and roundtable discussions. Senior Tutor Max Beber from Sidney Sussex College shared insights into Cambridge's distinct college system and student management. Professor Pamela Burnard discussed the role of arts and humanities in the AI era and advocated for STEAM education. Dr Sergei Taraskin explored student development goals and Cambridge's talent cultivation mechanisms: offering insights into interdisciplinary talent development. Participants engaged in in-depth roundtable discussions and collaborative exchanges, addressing the challenges associated with education in the digital age.

Discussions took place at the Conference of Basic Education 

Following the event, the delegation proceeded to the CBBC London office to meet with representatives from UK Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), Trinity College London, RSL Awards, Malvern International, and St Bees School. Here, another vibrant roundtable session unfolded. The forum centred around three main themes: Opportunities and challenges for school collaboration models, Career development opportunities for students, and School leadership and school development for all-around education purposes. Participants actively shared their experiences and insights, collaborating to address how education is evolving in this new era. 

Chris Kirk, Director of UCAS International, shared a presentation at CBBC’s London office
 
UK institutional representatives and the China university delegation at CBBC’s London office

Constituting an integral facet of the immersive educational experience, the delegation had the privilege of embarking on a visit to the National Gallery, guided by mentors specialising in arts education from UCL. This afforded them an immersive firsthand encounter with pedagogical methodologies within the domain of art education.

China is currently supporting comprehensive educational access through its policies. And prior to this session, CBBC arranged the British Education for Schools Talk (BEST) event, where reputable UK all-round education providers were invited to showcase educational resources and share insights at CBBC in China. The insights gained from the BEST event about international all-round education approaches also helped foster the delegation's enhanced understanding and learning from the trip to the gallery.

The China university delegation engaging in museum pedagogy at the National Gallery

The forthcoming iteration of the Cambridge International Education Seminar is scheduled to take place once more in the summer of 2024. We extend a warm invitation to CBBC member organisations, inviting you to partake in a collaborative journey that will illuminate fresh vistas within the realm of education.