DfES Register of Education and Training Providers

From 1 January 2005 all foreign students who want to study in the UK must study at an educational establishment that is on the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) Register of Education and Training Providers.

"If the educational establishment you plan to study at is not on the Register we will not give you a visa; nor will the Home Office grant leave to enter or remain as a student."

The register is online here. The full guide to applying for a student visa is here

24th December 2004

Great Link to Links!

I found this site by accident. Some great links. Click here.

UK denies visas to Chinese students

British universities have claimed that at least 8,000 Chinese students wanting to study in Britain this year have been refused visas. Vice-chancellors believe that a crackdown by British embassy staff in Beijing on fraudulent applications is responsible for the surge in student visa failures.

Since the start of this year, some British academics have said that many Chinese nationals were exaggerating their qualifications to gain entry to British universities. There have also been more Chinese nationals in their late teens or early 20s obtaining student visas to enter Britain, but then disappearing into the community to work.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has personally backed the strategy to increase overseas enrollments by 25% over the next three years and has specifically pinpointed China as potentially the most lucrative market for students.
But the success rate for visas by Chinese students wanting to go to Luton University has fallen from 70% last year to 30% this year.

Middlesex University, which has huge numbers of students from China, has also reported difficulties in its Chinese undergraduates getting visas. Leeds University, which has a project that has brought about 100 Chinese students from Harbin, northern China, each year for the past five years, said 78 of its applicants were refused visas this year. It said the visas were refused even though there had been no history of bogus applications in the past.

In the past two years, university students from China have outnumbered students from any other country studying in Britain. Last year, the number reached a record 31,900, according to the British Council.

21st August 2004

Suggestions on the Management of Foreign Teachers. Issued 9th July, 2003 

Below is a translation of a document apparently issued to schools employing foreign teachers. Some of it is obvious, some scary and some just hilarious. If you are interested in the original Chinese, it is here. (Word Document - requires Chinese fonts to be installed on your computer! I'll make a PDF version ASAP.)

Ten Forbiddens

1. It is forbidden to reveal national secrets or intelligence to foreign teachers. It is suggested the school orders a copy of 'National Safety' magazine, a magazine published by the National Safety Administration to disseminate knowledge about national safety, which can explain which things you cannot reveal to foreign teachers and how to ensure confidentiality. 

2. It is forbidden to try to obtain foreign currency or gifts from foreign teachers.

3. It is forbidden to introduce to foreign teachers any news which goes against the national image.

4. It is forbidden to take foreign teachers to any unopen area to travel or take photographs. 

5. It is forbidden for foreign teachers to carry out religious teaching.

6. It is forbidden for foreign teachers to engage in dangerous activities (such as swimming in places without safeguards, mountaineering and orienteering.)

7. It is forbidden for foreign teachers to teach part-time at unapproved schools. 

8. It is forbidden to wander into foreign teachers accommodation to have a look around, or to disturb their rest.

9. It is forbidden for foreign teachers to date students.

10. It is forbidden for foreign teachers to meddle in China's internal affairs.

Ten Inadvisables

1. It is inadvisable to change the foreign teachers' timetable. If it is necessary, inform them in advance.

2. It is inadvisable to frequently invite foreign teachers to banquets. They aren't used to the Chinese habit of eating and drinking lots at banquets. 

3. It is inadvisable to allow students to visit foreign teachers' apartments too often to ask questions. You should respect their rest time. 

4. It is inadvisable to require foreign teachers to live according to the Chinese peoples' lifestyle; as long as it doesn't affect their work, you can let them sleep over.

5. It is inadvisable to pay foreign teachers salary late. Pay salaries accurately and on time. 

6. It is inadvisable to humour your foreign teacher too much; strictly follow the contract, but pay attention to their difficulties in life and work.

7. It is inadvisable to rely too much on foreign teachers. Chinese people's English education should still mainly rely on Chinese people. Foreigners can only raise interest levels and help pronunciation (oral English). Middle school and university exams must still be taught by Chinese teachers.

8. It is inadvisable to allow students of the opposite sex to visit foreign teachers accommodation alone; it is suggested two or three go together. 

9. It is inadvisable to be over protective of your foreign teachers, so don't intrude on their privacy and freedom.

10. It is inadvisable to discuss the school's internal affairs with them; keep the internal and external separate. 

Ten Suggestions

1. It is suggested that the school translates the entire term's schedule into English so the foreign teachers know when holidays and exams are. 

2. It is suggested that schools popularise English. From guards to cooks, from the school head to common workers, they should all learn polite English conversation.

3. It is suggested that the school's road signs, doorplates and signs be bilingual, to help the foreign teachers get used to school life.

4. It is suggested that you buy a local map. If there is no English map, translate all main roads, hotels, harbours, airports, stations etc. into English, so foreign teachers won't get lost. 

5. It is suggested that the names, phone numbers and addresses of all people concerned with foreign teachers are translated and put in a booklet, so that if the foreign teacher has any problem they can promptly contact them for help. (such as the PSBs Foreign Affairs Office, Travel Agents, hotels, airports, taxis, hospitals, translation companies, English teachers, Foreign Affairs Officer, other foreign teachers in the town etc.)

6. It is suggested that the school establish a weekly teaching feedback form, to understand the foreign teachers teaching progress, teaching quality and promptly pass it on to head office, in order to carry out supervision and improvement. 

7. It is suggested that the school supplies a foreign affairs assistant for the foreign teacher, so the foreign teacher can get prompt feedback and help in any problems they meet in their first month. 

8. It is suggested that you establish files on foreign teachers, including the foreign teachers' information, activities, photos and recordings, and invite the media to publicize it, and afterwards it can be kept in the school archives.

9. It is suggested that observations and exchange are set up between Chinese and foreign teachers, and that Chinese teachers help foreign teachers set the scope, pace and difficulty of their teaching.

10. It is suggested that the school starts an English corner, and chooses 6-10 people as model foreign language students to frequently get special tutoring and help from foreign teachers.

Ten Regulations

1. Foreign teachers should not be distributed equally; they should be fixed with several experimental classes to concentrate their power and ensure all students make breakthroughs. If they are spread over several thousand students in a school it's like a dragonfly emptying a lake.

2. Foreign teachers can't only use Chinese teaching materials; that's too boring, they should be allowed to add their own material.

3. Foreign teachers shouldn't just be used for teaching; they can also be used for recruitment and publicity, building an English environment, reforming teaching and research, introducing new teaching methods and the promotion of reform in scientific research. 

4. Foreign teachers can't get used to China's food and drinking habits. They should be helped to go and buy ingredients and cook for themselves.

5. As far as possible, arrange foreign teachers classes in the morning 3rd and 4th period and 5th and 6th period in the afternoon. They have a habit of going to bed late and getting up early. 

6. Foreign teachers are very plain dealing and direct, there's no need to beat around the bush, square is square, round is round, one is one, two is two. If you go round in circles, they'll lose the plot. 

7. Foreign teachers make mountains out of molehills. A blown fuse, blocked toilet, blown bulb, crashed computer-  for them, it's all important. If you can fix it, help them solve the problem as soon as possible, with no time delay. 

8. You can help foreign teachers, but don't expect them to return the favour and help you, or else you'll be very disappointed. 

9. For foreign teachers to do well, you need to give them some spiritual encouragement, such as having an entire class of students sign a T-shirt, or giving them a football they like to kick, or even a peasant's raincoat woven of straw, or a small piece of students' handiwork. These can all be treasured by them, and they'll work even harder for the school. 

10. Foreign teachers like probity, honesty and respect for the law. Whatever you do, don't think they are too naive and cheat them, because they'll have a way to meet your deception. It's better to make problems sound more difficult, and don't make light promises. If it's ok it's ok; if it's not it's not. Don't lie.

5th July 2004

HELP 1

On the "Education" pages of this website, I have provided some information about life in colleges here. I would really like to include more on teaching in middle schools, but as I have no experience in this area I am looking for a volunteer to write a few words.

Information on the work involved, the students, living conditions etc. The more the merrier.

The education pages are here.

HELP 2

I am trying to put together a list of those schools which are able to provide proper working papers. If you have a residence permit and Z-visa, please let me know which school you are employed with.

Also, if you have had problems or are working on a tourist visa despite promises of working visas, I'd be interested to here from you.

Many thanks!

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