CONNECT Symposium
UK-China TNE Network for Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Professional Practice
Enhancing teaching, learning and student experience for a sustainable and innovative future
Overview
This inaugural two-day TNE symposium will bring together practitioners, researchers, and policymakers from the UK, China, and other regions across Asia to exchange knowledge and share best practices in transnational education (TNE). The event will focus on advancing high-quality teaching and learning, innovative curriculum design, robust quality assurance, and sustainable educational practices.
At its core, the symposium seeks to navigate the intersection of Eastern and Western teaching philosophies, fostering meaningful dialogue on how these approaches can complement each other in shaping the future of TNE. Discussions will also explore how institutions can respond to the emerging challenges of Generative AI, the evolving expectations of learners, and the pressures of global employability, ensuring that transnational education remains adaptive, inclusive, and future-ready.
This annual symposium aims to:
- Foster collaboration between UK and Chinese institutions.
- Share effective quality assurance mechanisms (internal/external moderation, student engagement).
- Explore research and industry partnership opportunities.
- Discuss the realities and opportunities of teaching and working in China as international staff.
- International staff working with Chinese staff
- Support staff and institutions in navigating classrooms and cultural contexts in China.
- Explore generative AI in teaching and learning
Key Topics
Presentation, panel discussion and practice sharing
- The future of quality in TNE: from compliance to continuous enhancement
- Navigating dual educational systems: aligning standards, assessments, and expectations
- The use of Generative AI in teaching, learning and assessment in TNE
- Developing leadership pathways in TNE: supporting academic and professional growth
- Digital Transformation in TNE: tools, platforms, and pedagogical Innovation
- Curriculum co-design across borders: managing alignment and autonomy
- Faculty development and peer learning across partner institutions
- Connecting students with industry for career-ready skills
- Innovative student support systems in TNE contexts
- Enhancing student belonging and identity in transnational learning communities
- Navigating classrooms and cultural dynamics in China
Date and format
Joining us online from anywhere in the world through Zoom
Thursday, 4th December: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm Beijing time (8:00 am – 11:00 am UTC)
Friday, 5th December: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm Beijing time (7:00 am – 10:00 am UTC)
Programme Highlights
Day 1, Thursday, 4th December: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm Beijing time
(8:00 am – 11:00 am UTC)
Keynote: TNE in China: current realities; future directions
Presentation:
- The Future of Quality in TNE: From Compliance to Continuous Enhancement
- The use of Generative AI in teaching, learning and assessment in TNE
Panel Discussion: Navigating the UK and China dual educational system
Practice sharing:
- Practical Approaches to Using AI for Teaching, Assessment, Feedback and Learning Analytics
- Developing Leadership Pathways in TNE: Supporting Academic and Professional Growth
- Quality Assurance in TNE and Student Engagement
- Navigating the UK and China dual educational system
Day 2, Friday, 5th December: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm Beijing time
(7:00 am – 10:00 am UTC)
Keynote: Managing TNE Growth in China
Presentation:
- Digital Transformation in TNE: Tools, Platforms, and Pedagogical Innovation
- Curriculum Co-Design Across Borders: Managing Alignment and Autonomy, with Case Study of Glasgow
Panel Discussion: Research and Collaboration in TNE: enhancing industry links and student employability
Practice sharing:
- Innovative Student Support Systems in TNE Contexts
- Enhancing Student Belonging and Identity in Transnational Learning Communities
- Navigating Classrooms and Cultural Dynamics in China
- Building Bridges: Initiating and Sustaining UK-China TNE Partnerships
Who should Attend
This symposium is designed for academics, university leaders, quality assurance professionals, administrative staff, educational authorities, and industry partners involved in UK–China transnational education (TNE). It will also be of interest to those engaged in curriculum design, student experience, policy development, and international collaboration across higher education institutions.Organising Committee
Rebecca Wakelin, Xi’an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
Dr Cheryl Yu, The TNE Institute, London, UK
Dr Mark Edwards, The TNE Institute, Mauritius
Professor Wasim Ahmad, The University of Glasgow, UK
Dr Sajjad Hussain, Glasgow College, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
