Chongqing: Embracing Openness to Inject New Impetus into International Education Practice

With an open outlook, Chongqing has created a new framework for international cooperation in education. Aiming to become an “inland gateway for educational openness and cooperation,” the city is advancing on a two-way path of “bringing in” and “going global” to build a dynamic, influential and well-connected system for international school collaborations. This forward-looking strategy seeks to inject strong momentum into inland China’s international cooperation exchanges, yielding significant achievements that are “leading in Western China, advancing nationwide, and distinctly Chongqing.” In basic education, Chongqing actively promotes international exchange programs among primary and secondary schools, offers multilingual courses, and deepens Chengdu-Chongqing collaborations between schools and local governments to cultivate exemplary schools with international characteristics. Chongqing is also exploring new approaches to establishing Chinese international schools overseas, and welcoming foreign youth to visit and study in Chongqing while introducing foreign teachers to enrich its faculty teams.

By deepening its openness, Chongqing has achieved fruitful results in international educational exchanges. The “Study in Chongqing” brand continues to evolve. We build bridges of friendship through the “Youth Envoy Scholarship,” driving innovation through multiple “Silk Roads Programme,” and presenting a variety of highlights such as the “Study in Chongqing China” International Summer School and other cultural exchange initiatives—showcasing the distinctive appeal of Chongqing’s education to the world. The pace of education “going global” remains steady. High-quality institutions are taking their signature programs overseas. The ILSTC International Vocational Education Alliance is thriving, and overseas programs like “Luban Workshop,” “Panda College,” and “Chongqing Auto Workshop” have taken root. Educational platforms such as Confucius Institutes are promoting the “Chinese +” education model globally, painting a grand picture of Chongqing’s educational openness. In global education governance, platforms like the Center for Chinese and Greek Civilizations (KELKIP) and the China-South Asia Countries Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Center have delivered significant results. Chongqing universities actively participate in global education governance research and practice, contributing Chongqing’s wisdom to international education cooperation. Education cooperation with Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan continues to deepen through faculty and student exchanges, joint training programs, and sister school partnerships. These endeavors have advanced integrated educational development.

By promoting openness in education, Chongqing’s international cooperation in higher education has achieved notable success. The joint college established by Chongqing Medical University and the University of Leicester in the UK has trained numerous internationally-oriented medical professionals. Chongqing Normal University has partnered with the Moscow Conservatory in Russia for in-depth collaboration in music education, opening a new chapter in China-Russia art education. Joint talent development programs with Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and the National University of Singapore are steadily advancing. Through the Symposium on China-Foreign Joint Education Within the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin-Hub Mega-Region, Chongqing pools together global high-quality educational resources to advance China-foreign educational collaboration to higher levels. Through in-depth international cooperation in industry, academia, research, and application, Chongqing is establishing a new international talent cultivation system. More specifically, via the “Foreign Language +” interdisciplinary training plan and “French + Law” and “English + Law” featured undergraduate programs, the city has established a talent cultivation hub with global competitiveness. Overseas talent recruitment centers gather top global minds, and overseas study programs for faculty and students cultivate innovative talent with an international outlook.

By broadening its horizons of openness, Chongqing’s education has engaged in in-depth dialogue with the world. We see the splendid galaxy of world civilizations, which also serves as the path paved by Chongqing’s education for the city’s future dialogue with the world, illuminating with an ever-widening vision the new journey for educational openness in inland China.

By He Yu/The World and Chongqing