University of the West of Scotland has been recognised as an official training partner by China’s State Administration for Foreign Expert Affairs (SAFEA).

This endorsement means UWS becomes the first organisation in Scotland to be accredited as part of an elite group providing foreign expertise and technical and managerial training to organisations in China.

SAFEA is the government agency responsible for certifying foreign experts to work in mainland China and for organising overseas training for Chinese professionals.

As a recognised Overseas Training and Collaborative Organisation (OTCO) UWS will be able to deliver and share training to Chinese partners in a broad number of areas of UWS expertise, including:

· Creative Media: cultural diplomacy, media practice

· Environmental Health: waste management, circular economy, food safety

· Global Tourism: rural tourism, cultural heritage and regeneration, global branding

· Healthcare: elderly people care and dementia care, midwifery and newborn care, community healthcare

· Immersive Teaching: transformational education, VR/AR technology in teaching

· Integration between education and industry: Modern Apprenticeships, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

· International Innovation and Entrepreneurship: enterprise education

· Science & Technology: Thin films, 5G technology, Smart City technology, aircraft engineering

· Sport: football coach training

This accreditation marks the first official link between China and Scotland focused on training and will help open up new opportunities for partnership working in commerce, industry and business between the two countries, both in Scotland and in China.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is currently visiting China on a trade mission and attending events in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, said:

"UWS has a strong track-record of positive engagement and cooperation with partners at a national and international level. This accreditation from China’s State Administration for Foreign Expert Affairs will help to further strengthen Scotland’s academic and cultural links with China, enabling our two countries to continue to share expertise and best practices in a broad number of areas.”

UWS will also be the first Scottish organisation to attend the Conference on International Exchange of Professionals in Shenzhen (14-16 April). UWS representatives will meet and explore collaborative opportunities with counterparts from technical and management roles in Chinese universities, public sector organisations and companies interested in overseas training.

University of the West of Scotland Principal & Vice-Chancellor Professor Craig Mahoney said: “UWS has a long and proud history of friendship with China. We are absolutely delighted our already strong foundations of partnership and collaboration have been further strengthened through this important accreditation by the Chinese State Administration. This will have significant importance for the University and for Scotland as a whole, and open up new and impactful areas of activity.”

About SAFEA - SAFEA is the Chinese Government agency responsible for certifying foreign experts to work in the Chinese mainland and organising overseas training for Chinese technical and managerial professionals. SAFEA currently has 261 OTCOs across 36 countries and regions. SAFEA is also involved in:

· Devising plans and policies for introducing overseas expertise to China

· Examining and approving plans financed by dedicated State funds and managing the national budget

· Administering relevant international exchanges and cooperation

· Managing annual overseas training plans, and approving overseas training providers/programmes financed by State funds