Selkirk College joins forces with Taiyuan Normal University to provide unique opportunity
By Contributor
There’s a sign on the side of the building at Taiyuan Normal University (TNU) in Taiyuan, China, that reads — Sino-Canadian Selkirk College of Taiyuan Normal University.
The reason for the sign comes from a unique collaboration between TNU and Castlegar’s Selkirk College which offers a three-year English diploma program.
TNU develops and delivers the curriculum, which focuses on Applied English for Education, Business and Tourism, and prepares the students for the English leaving test that Chinese graduates are required to write.
The University manages logistics for the program, including student and faculty recruitment.
Selkirk College provides an annual placement assessment for each student as per Selkirk College’s English Language Program (ELP) as well as opportunities for sharing curriculum, teaching expertise, and professional development.
This is without question a win-win situation.
TNU benefits from access to foreign teachers, professional development, and a supported transition for students to education in Canada at Selkirk College.
Graduates have increased employment opportunities as a result of the high level of expertise in English of their TNU teachers and the foreign evaluation provided by Selkirk College.
Selkirk College faculty gain a better understanding of English Language education in China through working at the university. Graduates of the Selkirk College TESOL Program can opt to participate in an international practicum at TNU.
Qualified TNU graduates have the opportunity to study in post secondary programs at Selkirk College.
A spin off was the development of online placement testing that is used by all ELP students at Selkirk.
The first intake was September 2010, with more than 700 Chinese students currently registered in the first and second year.
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