Competition to award British students trip to China

Teenage students in a British region have been tasked with designing a school of the future, with those coming up with the best ideas winning a 10-day trip to China.

A lucky dozen high-school age students from the English county of Staffordshire will be chosen to make the journey of a lifetime later this year.

During their trip to China, they will visit some of China's major cities and gain first-hand experience of Chinese schools and culture.

As part of a new cultural exchange program, young people from China head to Staffordshire, in mid-Britain, to experience life in Britain.

The latest event is part of the surging people-to-people exchange activities between China and Britain, the two countries committed to a golden era in the bilateral relations.

The competition for students in Staffordshire was launched Thursday at the newly established international Beaconwood College which is scheduled to open next year in Stafford.

Students currently in Years 10, 11 and 12 at schools in the Staffordshire local education authority area can take part in the competition by presenting their vision of what the school of the future will look like. They need to submit a presentation of between three and five minutes to outline their ideas.

Dr. Kai Liu, CEO of the New Beacon Group which is opening the college, said: "We're creating a global education hub for local students and international students in Stafford."

The competition runs from May 20 until June 30, with the names of the 12 winners announced in July. They will travel to China on Oct. 20 and return on Oct. 29. Endit