SHANGHAI WORLD EXPO—CANBERRA’S EDUCATION CREDENTIALS ON SHOW IN CHINA

Minister for Education and Training, Mr Andrew Barr led a delegation of organisations to China in September, culminating in VIP events as part of the ACT Government’s Silver Sponsorship of the Shanghai World Expo. 

The aims of the September mission were to promote and brand Canberra as Australia’s Education Capital and to generate tangible outcomes for the ACT’s educational institutions through provision of opportunities for future development and exchange between Chinese and Australian institutions.

The delegation included three companies operating in the education sector and three institutes:

  • ACT Education and Training Gateway
  • ACT Centre of Professional Studies
  • Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE)
  • University of Canberra (UC)
  • Department of Education and Training (DET)
  • Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT)

Minister Barr’s presence in Shanghai also provided an opportunity to launch the new Chapter of the University of Canberra’s alumni network for East China University of Science and Technology MBA Graduates, in recognition of 10 years of cooperation in the region.

The delegation also travelled to Tianjin to follow up on some activities from the July mission and then on to Guangzhou to participate in the China International SME Fair (CISMEF).  This year Australia was the sole co-host country for CISMEF, giving the mission participants the opportunity to be part of the largest Australian themed SME fair in China.  The ACT had a significant Education exhibition space with booths populated by the trade mission participants including DET, UC and CIT.

At CISMEF the delegation was grouped under the branding message of See Yourself Learning in Canberra, leveraging the See Yourself logo and tag line originally developed by ACT Tourism and now utilised extensively by the Live in Canberra program and Business and Industry Development to promote investment and Skilled and Business Migration activities in the Territory. This branding has been established as part of the ACT’s International Education Strategy supported by Canberra’s key education stakeholders.

The Shanghai World Expo saw its final visitors on 31 October 2010. Warren Langley’s Microscopia, the large glass artwork commissioned by the ACT Government as part of its Silver sponsorship of the Australian Pavilion, will now return to Canberra to be installed in the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital located at the Canberra Hospital. 

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