Live, learn, explore China

Fact Sheet and Application FormWhat is the Victorian Young Leaders to China program?

The Victorian Young Leaders to China program (VYL China) is an award winning in-country immersion program for Year 9 students that has been running since 2014. VYL China has a global learning focus and provides students and teachers with an enhanced overseas learning experience. VYL China has been shown to improve student engagement in schooling, leadership and intercultural capabilities and helps prepare students for living and working in an increasingly interconnected global community.

VYL China aims

VYL China aims to increase the number of Victorian students with strong leadership capabilities and skills, intercultural capability, Asia literacy and Chinese language proficiency. Such investments are designed to promote global engagement and learning more broadly in schools and contribute to Victoria being the most Asia-capable workforce in Australia.

What is the VYL China Statewide program?

The VYL China Statewide program is delivered by the Department of Education and Training (DET) and facilitates participation from students and teachers from of Victorian schools that include Chinese language learning in their curriculum.

The program includes:

· an overnight pre-departure camp

· a six-week immersion in China that involves two weeks intensive language and cultural immersion at a Chinese university and four weeks at a high-performing Chinese school

· a post program forum

There are two intakes of the VYL China Statewide program annually, with the in-country immersion occurring in March/April and October/November/December respectively.

Applications for the 2020 Victorian Young Leaders to China are now open and will close 20 August 2019.

Program costs

VYL China is funded through a co-contribution model, with parents/guardians contributing $3000 and the Department funding the balance of the core program costs. To reduce the effects of disadvantage, up to 35% of places will be fully funded by the Department for students whose parent/guardian holds a current healthcare or pensioner concession card naming the student.

The Department funds core program costs for the accompanying teacher, noting that any teacher replacement cost is the responsibility of the participating school.

Core program costs include:

· pre-departure and post-program phases

· all travel arrangements, including return airfares, visas and insurance for government schools

· accommodation, meals and activities organised by the Chinese partners

· student uniform and curriculum materials

Any incidental costs (e.g. passports, token gifts and spending money) are the responsibility of the participating students and teachers.

Schools are responsible for collecting the $3000 co-contribution from parents/guardians to be paid to the Department for program delivery.

Program eligibility

· Students enrolling in Year 9 in 2020

· Continuing learners of Chinese as a second language (completed Year 7 and 8 Chinese studies)

· Victorian secondary schools with a current Chinese Second Language program

· One experienced teacher to accompany up to eight students from each school (1:8 ratio)

Program selection criteria

Demonstrated school commitment to supporting:

· a sustained, whole school approach to global learning and engagement, particularly addressing key VYL China aims

· participating students and the accompanying teacher to participate in the program

· sharing and sustaining VYL China aims for participating students, accompanying teachers, other students and teachers, and the broader community to promote the benefits of VYL China.

School roles and responsibilities

By participating in VYL China, schools must commit to recruiting and selecting students and teachers in line with established criteria and protocols below:

advocate and promote VYL China within the school and the wider community

appoint a VYL China School Liaison to act as the first point of reference on administrative matters for parents/guardians of students selected in the program and DET (or their representative)

fund CRT costs associated with replacing the accompanying teacher (for the three-week immersion program and 2-3 full day pre-departure teacher briefings) and provide contingency funds for medical or daily expenses in-country

provide administrative support to the program to ensure all information requests are met in a timely manner

provide comprehensive medical and special dietary needs information of all participating students to DET (or their representative)

provide other information as requested to ensure the smooth running of the program

integrate VYL China into the curriculum offerings for participating students and teachers as well as other students and teachers at the school

make arrangements at the school level so that students and their accompanying teachers will be able to participate in all program elements including: pre-departure phase; the six-week immersion component in China; post return phase; and professional learning and development components for teachers, and that accompanying teachers are able to attend 2-3 full day pre-departure teacher briefings

make arrangements at the school level so that the school Principal can participate in required briefings

ensure appropriate system level travel approvals have been obtained. For government schools, this will include having Regional Director approval through the online DET School Staff Travel Approvals process

ensure the school Principal, or delegate, is available during the in-country component to act as an emergency contact for students, their parents/guardians and accompanying teachers

ensure the school Principal, or their delegate, regularly communicates with accompanying teachers whilst they are in China

commit to sharing and sustaining the benefits gained from participating in the VYL China throughout the school and the wider community

Make the required arrangements at school level to enable participation in an evaluation of the program

abide by any DET policies relevant to overseas excursions, including but not limited to any policies identified or discussed at the following link: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/spag/safety/Pages/safety.aspx

Key dates

2020 VYL China Statewide program

Intake 1 (March/April)

Intake 2 (October/November)

School applications open

30 July 2019

30 July 2019

School applications close

20 August 2019

20 August 2019

Successful schools notified

10 September 2019

10 September 2019

Principal briefing date

Early October 2019

Early March 2020

Teacher and student selection

October 2019

March 2020

Teacher briefing #1

Early November 2019

Early April 2020

Teacher briefing #2

Mid-February 2020

Late August 2020

Pre-departure camp

Mid-February 2020

Late August 2020

Six weeks in-country

March/April 2020

October/November 2020

Post-program forum

Mid-May 2020

Early December 2020

How to complete and submit application:

Applications are to be completed electronically and submitted to: vylc@edumail.vic.gov.au

Any supporting documentation needs to be submitted as a PDF. Other formats will not be accepted.

For further information, visit: www.study.vic.gov.au/en/global-learning-programs/young-leaders-to-china/Pages/default.aspx

Please email your enquiries to: vylc@edumail.vic.gov.au

OFFICE USE ONLY

Date received:

School Application Form

Preferred cohort

Please select preference order. If only one date is suitable, select only one:

󠄖 March/April 2020

󠄖 October/November 2020

School name:

Mailing address:

Principal’s name:

Principal’s telephone:

Mobile:

Principal’s email:

Nominated VYL China liaison person: __________________________________________________

Liaison’s contact telephone: __________________________ Mobile: ________________________

Liaison’s email: ___________________________________________________________________

School selection criteria

Please respond to the following questions (up to 500 words per response)

Provide evidence and examples of your school’s commitment to supporting a sustained, whole of school approach to global learning and engagement, including addressing the key VYL China aims.

Outline how your school will support participating students and the accompanying teacher to participate in the program.

Outline how your school will support sharing and sustaining VYL China aims for participating students, accompanying teachers, other students and teachers, and the broader community in your region.

Principal statement

I confirm that our school will select up to eight 2020 Year 9 students who successfully meet the following criteria:

1. currently enrolled in a Chinese second language program completing Year 7 and 8 Chinese studies by 2020

willingness and capability to undertake all activities to meet the VYL China aims

demonstrated interest in deepening Chinese language, intercultural understanding, global citizenship and leadership skills

demonstrated interest in learning about and engaging with other cultures

willingness and capability to share and communicate their learning from the program with other students and their community

demonstrated involvement in and commitment to school and community activities and achievement

demonstrated readiness and suitability for the program (as confirmed and endorsed by their Homeroom Teacher or Year Level Coordinator and school Principal).

*Priority will be given to students who demonstrate a commitment to continue their study of Chinese through to VCE and are eligible to undertake VCE Chinese Second Language. See eligibility criteria: VCE Chinese Second Language.

I confirm that our school will select teachers/school leaders who successfully meet the following selection criteria to accompany the students:

1. outstanding ability to supervise Year 9 students and take care of their diverse needs

outstanding personal qualities which enable teachers to represent Victoria and their school in an international setting including intercultural sensitivities, a genuine interest in China and the ability to undertake public speaking engagements as required, including participating in media events

demonstrated experience in organising and leading student activities, camps and excursions, including international excursions

ability to work as part of a team while in China to ensure all program objectives are met

ability to undertake and commit to professional learning and development opportunities in China to strengthen professional practice.

Principal’s signature: _________________________________ Date: ________________

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VICTORIAN YOUNG LEADERSTO CHINA PROGRAMAUSTRALIA

GLOBAL LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT