Northern Sydney Institute Director, Alison Wood has welcomed this year’s recipients of the Teacher Research Program at St Leonards Campus.
Jessica Jiang, TAFE program coordinator from Beijing College of Politics and Law, and Kevin Zheng, teacher and TAFE program coordinator from Shunde Polytechnic are taking part in a tailored program at the Northern Sydney Institute which includes a mentor, class observations, participation in faculty activities and assistance with research projects.
“I am pleased to further strengthen our offshore business relationships through this joint program which gives teachers from our Chinese partner colleges the opportunity to visit the Institute for up to 12 weeks and undertake research in the VET sector,” said Ms Wood.
Supported by her mentor, Alison Ebeling who teaches business at Meadowbank Campus, Ms Jiang will research into curriculum design and critical thinking. She is looking forward to presenting her findings to her peers in China and implementing some of the strategies when she returns in November.
Mr Zheng is focusing on delivery and assessment, as well as student outcomes with the assistance of his mentor Karen Wakefield from the Meadowbank Campus business faculty.
“I am keen to learn from the Northern Sydney Institute about student assessment tools, teaching quality control and how to increase the competency of students so that I can influence better outcomes in China when I return at the end of the year,” said Mr Zheng.
The pair will also find time to explore the sites and culture of Sydney. Already, they have travelled to the Blue Mountains and have been impressed with the local environment and food.
The Northern Sydney Institute has been delivering offshore programs in China for 15 years and introduced the Teacher Research program in 2013. It is offered each year to teachers at the six partner colleges in China.
“This is a fantastic development program which allows for collaboration and information exchange with our Chinese partner colleges and I look forward to welcoming many more visiting scholars in the years ahead,” said Ms Wood.
The Beijing College of Politics and Law (BCPL) has been running the Advanced Diploma of Management program with the Northern Sydney Institute since 2008. Shunde Polytechnic has been a partner since 2007 and currently delivers the Advanced Diploma of Management and the Advanced Diploma of Marketing.