Scotch College

Scotch's relationship with Chinese schools expanded and strengthened

The China tour group in front of Tian'anmen Square, Beijing

Twenty-seven Scotch boys and three staff returned to Melbourne on 1 October after an unforgettable, mind-stretching, 16-day China tour.

The boys, from Years 9, 10 and 11 are all studying the Chinese language and relished the opportunity to stay in Shanghai with Chinese hosts (where they were well and truly spoiled), attend Chinese classes at Fudan University High School, and make friends with the Chinese students.

The Scotch boys were warmly welcomed by the Principal, senior management personnel, staff members and students of the Chinese school. The visit further strengthened the growing relationship between Scotch and Fudan University High School – links which will be reinforced next year when the Principal of the Chinese school visits Scotch to sign a historic agreement on exchange programs.

Scotch’s relationship with Fudan University High School has developed exponentially since the Principal, Dr Gordon Donaldson, visited the school in 2005. While in China, Dr Donaldson also visited Beijing University High School to maintain the good relationship between the two schools which began 10 years ago.

Almost 100 Scotch students have benefited from this relationship by participating in one of four trips to Beijing University High School during the past 10 years. In early 2005, the first Chinese student delegation visited Scotch and signed an agreement on exchange programs between the two schools. Dialogues have since taken place on issues such as the development of study exchange programs and setting up bilateral scholarships.

We hope that an agreement will soon be reached on reciprocal scholarships between Scotch and the two Chinese schools, enabling students from Scotch and the two Chinese schools to study for one term in the exchange sister school.

Exchange programs between Scotch and the two prestigious Chinese schools have strongly promoted communication, cross-cultural understanding, goodwill and friendship between the Chinese and Australian participants, their host families, and accompanying teachers. The students have improved their language skills, and there have been important personal development benefits as they learn to live with, adjust to and interact with people of each other’s cultures. The experience plays an important part in preparing the students for their careers and their roles as global citizens.

Jixing Xu
Head of Chinese