Queen Mary University of London Engineering School, NPU Held UK-NPU Enterprise Education Workshop

On 11 December 2017, “Spirit of Youth--Make Ideas Happen” UK-NPU Enterprise Education Workshop, hosted by British Embassy, was held by Queen Mary University of London Engineering School, NPU (JEI) in East Teaching Building, Chang'an Campus, NPU.

The Secondary Secretary Ms.Jane Fulbrook and Regional Affairs Officer Ms.Wang Jiachen from British Embassy, Enterprise Education(EE) experts Julian, Zhubei, Charlotte, Mavis from Venture Education, and 150 teachers and students from NPU attended the workshop.

Nowadays, students have to face many challenges in a changingworld after their graduation and starting a career becomes a big question. A survey from Cambridge University showed that the company managers preferred innovative talents who could work out practical problems in creative ways.

At the very beginning, the EE experts gave tests on famous Chinese and British inventions to students. All of the students needed to collaborate in groups to figure out answers which were graded. The two groups with the highest scores gained prizes and gifts. After that, the host introduced the concept of EE based on current global employment status and operation of EE education abroad to inspire students about the importance of “making ideashappen”. Next, the host further elaborated several key qualities that the university students should be equipped with, such as time pressure, rapid risk assessment,sympathy, etc., and emphasized the importance of innovative ability and critical thinking.

After the speech, a short video from Queen Mary University of London was played. Two students who made the video said that they hoped to find “good ideas”to solve their transportation problems in London where there is changeable weather and where there are no bicycle lanes.

Students then were divided into 10 groups to cope with various challenges, for which they needed to come up with feasible solutions with consideration to concept, customers, competitors, compatibility, contents and cash in 30 minutes. Afterwards, an additional 20 minutes was given to students for them to make an innovative advertisement video for their ideas. During this process, students experienced and learned how to deal with extreme time pressure and team work. After discussing and evaluating, judges from the British Embassy chose four best teams according tocreativity, communication, compatibility and critical thinking respectively.

At the end of the workshop, the EE experts encouraged students to “make their ideas happen” in the last few days of 2017 and in life. In the meanwhile,they shared many different ways of innovation including Maker Space.

Enterprise education is quite popular in British universities. The NPU-QMUL JEI draws on the academic expertise of both institutions, as well as the strengths of two distinct educational cultures – the mathematical and scientific rigor found in China and the emphasis placed on creative problem-solving and transferable skills in the UK. Students graduate with a unique blend of skills, valued in China and around the world. This activity encouraged JEI students to put ideas into practice, hold a positive attitude, have sympathy towards others and make contribution to the world.

“Spirit of Youth” is inspired by Her Royal Highness the Princess Annie of British Royal Family, the British Ambassador in China Barbara Woodward, and Jiang Shuying, the famous actress in China. The activities last from July to December in 2017 and are warmly welcomed with a focus on six different fields that mutually benefit China and Britain: cultural innovation, physical education, health, scientific innovation and education.

(Reporter: Zhang Zequan, Chen Ruichao;Photographer: Li Boxuan;Reviewer: Chen Jun)