IUP

    *This post was edited on 9/02 to improve factual content.*

     In a previous post, I spoke at length about what I do in China.  While IELTS teaching is the lion’s share of what I do, there are also other duties, privileges and responsibilities that come with my job.

     I work for Jiangsu  Education Services for International Exchange or JESIE.  JESIE is a partner program with the Jiangsu Dept. of Education and has teachers working all throughout the province of Jiangsu.  I specifically teach in the International Universities Pathway or IUP Department which is a program designed for Chinese high schoolers wishing to study University abroad. 

     The IUP program was established just last year.  In the 2nd year of the program the feedback that came from the teachers in the first year, has shaped procedure for this year.  There are now 10 schools that run the IUP program, and what appears to be more to come, as a result of Jiangsu province’s push for students to study abroad.  

     With accreditation and quality control being monitored by our partner Universities:  Stanford University, University of London, University of Toronto, and University of Melbourne year 3 many students of our students will have the opportunity to attend university at the school of their qualification and choosing in the nations represented plus New Zealand.  As a teacher I expect that when these opportunities are realized, the IUP program will begin to take a fuller and more complete shape, but as for now the foundation teachers have been given a great opportunity (through the forward thinking of JS Dept. of Education and JESIE) to shape educational policy in not only their program, but possibly the whole of China; and also have a hand in helping international universities to further tap into the educational potential of young Chinese students. 

    Next semester around April, the next big stage for IUP arrives.  Our 2nd year students, 高二 gao1 er4, will begin to have almost all of their classes in English (Math, Science, Business, and the still evolving “other”).  At the end of the year, these students should attain an actual IELTS testing score of 5.5 to continue on in IUP and IELTS training at their high school.

     As an IUP teacher I am looking forward to the future of this program, and will continue to keep log of our progress.