In today’s talking points: Tech billionaire offering biggest ever education prize, China’s edtech to transcend current global standards; ANU rated in top 10 international universities on Times; More Chinese acting dreams succeed
Tech billionaire offering biggest ever education prize
The Yidan Prize, created by Charles Chen Yidan, co-founder of internet company Tencent, will offer nearly $8 million every year to two research projects that have potential to revolutionise global education. Tencent aim to utilise the prize in order to innovate education as well as replicate them globally. Chen Yidan himself has committed the rest of his life to educational philanthropy. Having experienced the immense pressure of studying for China’s gaokao, Charles has set up Wuhan College, a private university with a focus on “whole-person development”. Mr. Chen further believes in the use of big data in improving education and hopes that the Yidan prize will nurture and sustain its winners over a period of years’.
Read more at BBC
China’s edtech to transcend current global standards
Distance learning and edtech has seen a recent surge in China following an increase in government funding. 1.07 billion USD was invested into edtech startups by the government in 2015 alone. Many predict China is set to surpass the US in edtech investments. The OECD predicts tha by 2030, thing will no longer be ‘Made in China’ but ‘Engineered in China’. Zhongguancun in the Haidian District in Beijing is the Silicon Valley of China. Haidian is also the university hub of Beijing. China’s top universities such as Tsinghua University , Peking University and Renmin University. Both Peking University and Tsinghua University associated K-12 schools are among the first schools to adopt learning programs from edtech startups. STEM education is no only open to the privileged but a significant percent of student population is made up of migrant families, providing equal opportunities for all students.
Read more at Technode
ANU rated in top 10 international universities on Times
The Australian National University (ANU) has come 7th in Times Higher Education’s most international universities ranking between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. ANU is home to leading research and learning entre for the study of the politics, economics and societies of the Asia-Pacific and also have the strongest links to government departments, national institutions and foreign embassies. ANU’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Brian Schmidt said ‘the ranking reflects the unique role ANU plays in linking Australia to the world’.
Read more at smh
More Chinese acting dreams succeed
More than 38,000 ambitious students are contending for 499 spots at Beijing Film Academy, which are chased by millions of students who have star and fortune dreams. Majority of prestigious art colleges opened enrollment this week, including the Central Academy of Drama, a record high of 36,000 examinees this year. Art colleges select talents by their own tests, with 65% minimum academic standard required by the Ministry of Education. China’s box office reached US$6.58 billion, 3.73% up compared to last year, domestic films accounting 58.33%.
Read more at Xinhua.