GENERAL INFORMATION

The $13 million Victorian Young Leaders to China Program is a major Victorian Government initiative providing Year 9 students with an immersion experience that prepares them to live and work in a globalised world. It is enabling 1500 Victorian Year 9 students and 150 teachers to travel to China over five years.

The program’s objectives are to increase the number of Victorian students with strong leadership capabilities and 21st century skills, including intercultural competence, Asia literacy and Chinese language proficiency, thereby boosting the level of China literacy in Victoria and providing Victoria with Australia’s most Asia-capable workforce.

The program complements the Victorian Government’s Vision for Languages Education by supporting students to deepen their knowledge and understanding of another culture and language. It is designed to increase the number of students in all schools who include a language in addition to English in their senior secondary studies.

The Department has established partnerships with theOffice of Chinese Language Council International (Hanban), the Victorian Government Business Office in Shanghai, the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education, and the Shanghai District Education Bureau which has enabled the program to be conducted under this initiative.

68 Year 9 students accompanied by 9 teachers participated in the first six week program in China in March/April 2014. The program evaluation found that students improved their Chinese language proficiency and their depth of understanding of Chinese history and culture.

37 Year 9 students and 4 accompanying teachers are currently participating in the second six week program, timed to coincide with the 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing. In addition to the aims of the first program, students will also develop international friendships through participation in Olympic Games education and cultural activities.

Opportunities for involvement in the Victorian Young Leaders to China Program in 2015 comprise participation in:

  • March/April 2015,and/or August/September 2015
  • Sister school partnerships

1) Victorian Young Leaders to China Program

Schools can apply to participate in the March/April and/or August/September program. Participating schools can select up to 10 Year 9 students and 1 teacher/school leader to participate in the program. Small rural schools are invited to form a cluster to enable their students’ participation in the program.

Program Key Dates

March/April Program / August/September Program
Program dates / 14 March - 25 April 2015 (TBC) / 15 August - 26 September 2015 (TBC)
School applications close / 17 October 2014 / 1 May 2015
Student and teacher selections completed / 5 December 2014 / 5 June 2015
Deposit* due date / 15 December 2014 / 12 June 2015
Principal Briefing date / 15 December 2014 / 12 June 2015

*Due to airline policy for group bookings requiring full non-refundable payments of all tickets 60 days prior departure, participating schools will be required to pay the deposit of $1,500 per participant.

Details and requirements of March/April and August/September Program

Phases:

The program has three phases:

  • Phase 1: Pre-departure overnight orientation camp

The camp is aimed at preparing students for travelling to, living in and attending school in China. The camp will also provide the opportunity for all students and teachers to get to know one another prior to their immersion program in China.

  • Phase 2: Six week program in China

The six week program comprises two weeks of intensive language and culture program and four weeks of in-school experience.

The intensive Chinese language and culture program is to help students develop a higher level of proficiency and competency in Chinese. Itprovides students with opportunities to experience China through observation, investigation, participation and communication. It is designed to help them explore the culture and society by using Chinese language on a daily basis and by providing communication opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.

The four weeks in school experience will enable students to spend more time with local Chinese students and participate in typical local students' activities. Students will continue their Chinese language study in the morning and participate in structured curricular and extra-curricular activities provided by the Chinese host school in the afternoon. Each Victorian student will have a language buddy and will have the opportunity to visit their buddy’s family on weekends.

  • Phase 3: Post-program forum

The forum will be organised to provide participants with the opportunity to share their learning. They will also be invited to reflect on the impact of the program on their learning/teaching and to the wider community.

Cost:

The full cost is $6,000 per student. A subsidy of $3,000 per student will be provided to all participating students. In addition, fully funded places are available for low SES students. Thetotal cost of $5,500 per teacher for return airfares, visa, and all costs in China is covered by DEECD. Schools fund their teacher's CRT replacement costs. All government school participants will also be covered by VMIA Travel Insurance.

Application and selection process

Schools are required to submit an application form that addresses the following selection criteria.

School Selection Criteria

  1. Commitment to support a sustained, whole school approach to internationalising education
  2. Capacity to strengthen the leadership skills of their students and teachers and support them to develop or deepen their Asia capability
  3. Capacity to build school to school partnerships with schools overseas that can support future opportunities for global communication and interaction
  4. Capacity to nominate 10 Year 9 students and 1 teacher/school leader to participate in the program
  5. Capacity to support participating students and the accompanying teacher to engage with other students/teachers and the broader community to promote the benefits of Victorian Young Leaders to China Program and encourage them to participate in future programs.

School Roles and Responsibilities

  • Promote the Victorian Young Leaders to China Programwithin their school and the wider community.
  • Act as first point of reference for parents/guardians of students selected in the program.
  • Provide administrative support to the program to ensure all information requests are met in a timely manner
  • Provide feedback as requested to the program to ensure the smooth running of the Program.
  • Select students and teachers in line with established protocols.
  • Integrate this program into the curriculum offerings at the school in 2015 for participating students and teachers as well as other students and teachers at the school.
  • Make arrangements at the school level so that students will be able to participate in the pre-departure overnight orientation camp, six week program in China and post-program forum.

2) Sister school partnerships

An opportunity also exists to support schools to leverage their existing partnership with their sister school in China to offer their year 9 students with a six week immersion experience.

A one off grant will be offered to schools to deliver this program.The grant provides for the participation of up to 20 students to be accompanied by 2 teachers. The grant comprises $3,000 per student and $5,500 per teacher. Per student funding of $6,000 is available for low SES students.

Schools with a sister school in China applying for a one off grant to deliver a six week immersion programin partnership with their sister school are required to submit an application form that addresses the following selection criteria byFriday 28 November 2014.

School Selection Criteria

  1. Schools must have been engaged in their sister school partnership for a minimum of three years and the partnership must be active, i.e. educational activities are conducted with the partner school on a regular basis and within six months prior to application.
  2. The school must demonstrate its commitment to the partnership, i.e. how it commits financial and human resources to the success of the partnership.
  3. Experience in organising reciprocal visits within sister school.
  4. Evidence of school level planning to strengthen the sister school partnership through participation in this program and to sustain the partnership and immersion program into the future.
  5. The sister school in China must have capacity to provide a six week immersion program to the Victorian school and can administer all aspects of the program.
  6. Evidence that the applicant school can evaluate and report on the program outcomes to the International Education Division.

Terms and conditions

Implementation Plan

Selected schools will be required to submit an implementation plan in Term 1, 2015 providing:

  • Description of implementation
  • Implementation schedule
  • Implementation management
  • Risk management
  • Monitoring and evaluation plan

Post-program forum

Selected schools will be required to attend a forum facilitated by DEECD to provide the Victorian Young Leaders to China Programparticipants with the opportunity to share their learning. Participants will also be invited to reflect on the impact of the program on their learning/teaching and to the wider community.

Eligibility requirements for selection into the Victorian Young Leaders to China Program

Participating schools are advised that students and teachers selected to participate in the program fulfill all the eligibility criteria outlined below:

Student Selection criteria

  1. Currently enrolled in a Chinese language course.
  2. Willingness and capability to share and communicate their learning from the program.
  3. Demonstrated knowledge of, and interest in Chinese language and culture.
  4. Demonstrated commitment to continue their study of Chinese through to VCE*.
  5. Demonstrated involvement in and commitment to school and community achievements.
  6. School principal reference attesting to student’s readiness and suitability for the program.

*Priority will be given to students who demonstrate a commitment to continue their study of Chinese through to VCE and are eligible to undertake VCE Chinese Second Language. Please refer to the Eligibility Criteria for Chinese Second Language at

Teacher Selection Criteria

  1. Outstanding ability to supervise students and take care of their diverse needs.
  2. Outstanding personal qualities to represent Victoria in an international arena including speaking to groups and participating in media events.
  3. Demonstrated experience in organising and leading student activities, camps and trips, including international trips.
  4. Ability to work as a team whilst in China to ensure all program objectives are met.
  5. Ability and commitment to pursue professional learning and development opportunities in China to strengthen professional practice.
  6. Has taught in a secondary school setting for a minimum of 5 years.

Student and Teacher Roles and Responsibilities

Student Roles and Responsibilities

During the program:

  • Attend all scheduled activities including pre-departure overnight orientation camp, the six week immersion program in China and post-program forum organised by the DEECD and information sessions organised by their school
  • Represent their school and become young leaders.

Upon their return:

  • Become Chinese culture and language ambassadors at their school and within their region to help their school and community share their learnings
  • Engage with other students and the broader community to promote the benefits of the Victorian Young Leaders to China Programand encourage them to participate
  • Assist DEECD in the promotion of the Victorian Young Leaders to China Program.

Teacher Roles and Responsibilities

  • Primary duty of care
  • Participation in the pre-departure orientation program, the six week program in China and the post-program forum
  • Conduct regular briefing and debriefing sessions with students and regular parental/school contact during the six week immersion program in China
  • Participation in their in-country professional learning.

Student and Teacher Selection Process

The following documents have been developed to assist schools with the selection of students and the accompanying teacher:

  • Program information for students
  • Programs information for parents
  • Program information for teachers
  • Promotional e-postcard
  • Application and selection process for students and the accompanying teacher

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