On 26th May, Stelios Yalarakis, International Recruitment Manager, Cheshire College South & West, UK visited the College’s sister school in Shanghai accompanied by HOPE, conducting an interactive pre-departure culture briefing to about 30 students, teachers and parents representatives whose kids is to visit Cheshire College next month under the MoU between the two schools.

Last October, HOPE organized a school link forum in Shanghai to facilitate the in-depth understanding and collaboration between Chinese and overseas schools. At that event, with the help of HOPE, Shanghai Nanhui No. 2 Middle School and Cheshire College South & West signed a MoU to formalize the sister schools’ relationship witnessed by all audience. The exchange activities between the two schools have been carried out as planned since then, Stelios visited the partner school last year after the event and he was welcomed by the students with a series of performance of Chinese culture including Chines martial arts and calligraphy. “My wife started to follow a weekly martial arts class in the UK after I showed her the video I took in Nanhui No.2 School!” Stelios released this immediate impact of Chinese culture on people in the UK.

This time, Stelios introduced his college and British culture in return to the 20 students and 4 group leader teachers who are going to visit Cheshire College next month. Each student also introduced themselves and expressed strong interest and curiosity towards the college and British culture.

This is one of the many cases that how HOPE help overseas schools to promote in China and how the sister-school relationship materializes. For overseas schools, this is a very typical strategy of raising profile in China and recruiting students. Short term summer courses can provide students with a preliminary adaptation and understanding of studying abroad, while also deepen their impression on the partner school overseas. HOPE will organize similar forums this autumn and provide a platform for exchanges leading to enrollment.