作者：潘媛
英中貿易協會國際學校業務主管
By Ann Pan
International Schools Sector Lead
China-Britain Business Council
Demand for international-style education in China is rising rapidly, and not just among expatriate families. For the many Western expats who come to China to live and work, as well as others from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, selecting a school has always been a priority. But now more Chinese families are also seeking an overseas-style education for their children at home in China, complete with the different teaching styles, curriculum and multidimensional environment that brings.
目前，中國對國際教育的需求增長迅速，而這種需求不僅僅來自於外籍家庭。對於眾多在中國生活、工作的西方外籍人士，以及來自港澳臺地區的人士來說，擇校一直都是一項備受重視的任務。然而，如今越來越多的中國家庭也在國內為子女尋求一種類似海外留學的國際教育，這種教育模式能帶來與眾不同的教學方式、課程設置和多維的環境。
In June, the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) held a forum in Shanghai on international schools in China, which revealed how this growing demand is opening doors for British schools.
今年六月，英中貿易協會（CBBC）在上海舉辦了一場有關國際學校在華發展的論壇，該論壇展示了當前中國日益旺盛的國際教育需求是如何為英國學校打開一扇扇機會之門的。
The growth of private bilingual schools
私立雙語學校的增長
According to the Independent Schools Council (ISC), the number of registered international schools in China in 2015 was 597, compared with just 22 thirteen years ago. With this comes a growing opportunity for investment partnerships, as Ivan Ma of Topschools.cn explained at the forum.
英國私立學校委員會（Independent Schools Council, ISC）的數據顯示，2015年，在華註冊設立的國際學校達597所，十三年前該數字僅為22所。國際教育圈（Topschools.cn）的馬曉平先生在論壇上指出，學校數目的增長伴隨而來的是一大波投資合作的機會。
Of the three forms of international school in China – the traditional model admitting only foreign passport holders; private bilingual schools that admit both Chinese and foreign pupils; and international departments in local Chinese schools – the private bilingual schools have the greatest potential, due to a recent tightening of the policy on opening international departments in Chinese schools and to the limited number of school-age expatriates in China.
目前國際學校在中國有三種辦學形式：外籍人員子女學校、私立雙語學校和本土公立學校的國際班，其中外籍人員子女學校僅招收外籍學生，私立雙語學校既招收外籍學生也招收中國學生。由於近來政策上對公立學校開設國際班加緊了限制，而在華外籍學生數目畢竟有限，私立雙語學校自然成為了最具發展潛力的辦學形式。
Domestic bilingual schools can also fill a particular gap in the market: Chinese demand for education abroad now extends not only to universities, but also to schools, with demand beginning to outstrip supply. But prevailing Chinese government policy is holding them back – and private bilingual schools can meet this demand until such time as this changes.
國內雙語學校能填補當前市場上的特殊缺口：中國家庭對於留學教育的需求不僅僅在於高等教育層面，還延伸到了中小學，並且開始出現了供不應求的局面。但是，當前中國政府的政策對這股強大的留學需求形成了束縛——在政策轉變之前，私立雙語學校正好能滿足中國家庭的這股需要。
The role of UK schools
英國學校所扮演的角色
Bilingual schools in China, especially new ones, face challenges: Mr Ma cites profitability, teacher recruitment and training and especially building brand awareness. In order to tap into the market potential and to tackle the issue of brand awareness, many international schools are building bilingual schools under their brand, such as Nord Anglia Chinese International School (NACIS).
中國的雙語學校，尤其是新近設立的學校，面臨著不少挑戰，馬先生列舉了以下幾個：盈利能力、教師招聘及培訓、品牌意識的建立，尤其是最後一項。為了打入潛在市場並很好地解決品牌意識問題，許多國際學校都以自己的品牌建立了雙語學校，如諾德安達雙語學校 （Nord Anglia Chinese International School, NACIS）。
Jian Xu, vice-chairman of the privately run Shanghai World Foreign Language School, which has adopted the International Baccalaureate, underlines the importance of understanding what 『international education』 means when designing a curriculum: it is not simply a case of copying a foreign model, but rather means incorporating elements such as independent thinking into a hybrid syllabus.
徐儉是上海世界外國語學校副董事長，這所私立學校採用了IB （International Baccalaureate）課程。徐先生在論壇上談到了理解「國際教育」的真正含義在課程設置中的重要性：國際教育不是對外國教學模式的簡單複製，而是將諸如獨立思考等元素融入到具有中西特色的教學大綱當中。
Patrick Hoey, president of Wycombe Abbey International School, who earlier opened the Dulwich College schools in China, describes the hybrid curriculum as a definite advantage, explaining that the Chinese families who are interested in these schools want an all-round modern education as opposed to a purely foreign one. The retention of some Chinese elements appeals to those with a traditional outlook, while on the other hand the broad syllabus prepares pupils for overseas study and international careers.
候益（Patrick Hoey）是威雅公學（Wycombe Abbey International School）大中華區總裁，早前正是Patrick在中國領導團隊開設了一系列德威英國國際學校（Dulwich College）。他認為，雙語學校中西合璧的課程設置無疑是一個明顯的優勢，原因是那些對國際學校感興趣的中國家庭追求的並非純粹西化的教育，而是綜合全面的現代教育。因此，在課程設置當中保留一些中國元素能吸引那些觀念上趨傳統的家庭，另一方面，涉獵廣泛的教學大綱又能幫助學生為日後出國深造和國際化的職業生涯做好準備。
Attractions for investors
投資者吸引力
Chinese pupils follow a compulsory nine-year education programme from age seven to 16. Pupils at international schools during this time must follow a syllabus determined by the Chinese Ministry of Education, in addition to the international curriculum that they are studying. This puts pressure on middle schools (age 13-16) that run international programmes, and makes senior high schools (age 16-18) much more attractive to investors.
中國學生通常在7到16歲期間接受九年義務教育。入讀國際學校的同齡段學生，除了要學習國際課程之外，也要遵循中國教育部頒布的教學大綱進行學習。這使得開辦國際項目的初中壓力更大，因而高中對投資者而言具有更大的吸引力。
Prospective investors must speak to the provincial education bureau and gain permission for investment in an international school. It can be a lengthy process. Adam Rush of the property consultants DTZ Cushman & Wakefield spoke at CBBC’s forum about investor returns, citing feasibility studies into the opening of international schools, and presenting a study of their progress and profitability. His firm is working with Danes Hill School and Loretto School to open campuses overseas.
潛在投資者若想在當地開辦國際學校，必須向省級教育部門作出申請以獲得許可，這個過程可能會相當漫長。在英中貿易協會舉辦的這一論壇上，房地產顧問服務商戴德梁行（DTZ Cushman & Wakefield）的容亞當（Adam Rush）談到了投資者回報的問題，他援引了有關開設國際學校的可行性研究，同時也展示了這些學校的進展及盈利能力。戴德梁行目前在協助包括Danes Hill School和Loretto School在內的數所英國學校在海外建立校區。
How CBBC can help you
英中貿易協會如何助您發展在華國際學校事業
The mission of CBBC’s International Schools Sector team is twofold. On the UK side, we liaise with British private schools to understand their overseas expansion plans and help them understand the Chinese market and interest from potential investors. On the Chinese side, we identify opportunities for UK institutions to export their services (click Read More below to see the latest openings) and we run events to bring the two sides together.
英中貿易協會的國際學校行業團隊肩負著雙重使命。從英方來看，我們與英國的私立學校保持聯絡，了解他們的海外擴張計劃，幫助他們更好地了解中國市場以及潛在投資者的興趣。從中方來看，我們為英國機構識別各種機會，以便他們輸出服務（詳情請點擊下方閱讀原文），此外，我們還通過舉辦各種活動為雙方合作牽線搭橋。
To learn more about the international schools market or how to develop your business in China, please contact the author:
欲知更多有關中國國際學校市場以及如何在華開展業務的信息，請聯繫作者：
ann.pan@cbbc.org.cn