Sister school concept at forefront of Chinese visit

New sister school relationships and study tours between Bunbury and Jiaxing are hoped to be the legacies of a fact-finding visit last week.

Six officials from Bunbury’s friendship city, including Deputy Mayor Chai Yongqiang, were in Bunbury to learn about educational opportunities.

The delegation visited several schools, South Regional TAFE and Edith Cowan University during the two-day trip.

Bunbury City Council international relations officer Carol McDowall said dialogue would continue with the aim to achieving more virtual and physical educational links.

“The City of Jiaxing will now work on creating some sister schools with schools in Bunbury,” Mrs McDowall said.

“In addition they will promote Bunbury as a place to study to its citizens in Jiaxing.

“They will continue to support, through the Confucius Institute, the promotion of Chinese language and culture to the Bunbury community, particularly through the provision of Mandarin language teachers at the schools in Bunbury teaching this language.”

ECU South West campus dean Lyn Farrell previously said there were plans to offer scholarships to students from a leading Jiaxing high school.

She said the delegation’s visit also raised the possibility of study tours, similar to what Bunbury already had with Japanese sister city Setagaya.

Ms Farrell said the university would look to have involvement in these tours with the view of potentially attracting Chinese students, while there were also shorter-term plans to bring Chinese academics to Bunbury.

“I will certainly follow up the idea of study tours and we might provide accommodation on our campus for these tours to give exposure about what we have to offer,” Ms Farrell said.

“We have already been talking with Jiaxing University about nursing academics coming next year and they were very keen on that.”

Bunbury-Jiaxing Business Office liaison officer Yan Lyu said the delegation gained a deeper understanding of Bunbury’s education system, and would look to promote the relationship between the two cities on their return to China