Live, learn, explore ChinaFact 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 aimsVYL 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.

VYL China program typesProgram types Description

Statewide program

Managed by Department of Education and Training for schools that include Chinese language learning in their curriculum

Open to students who are learning Chinese as a second language The six week in-country experience involves two weeks intensive language and

cultural immersion at a Chinese university and four weeks at a high-performing Chinese school

Sister School Partnership program (delivered via two models)

Individual school model Supports Victorian schools to facilitate their own arrangements with their sister

schools in China to provide an immersion experience of between four to six weeks The learning focus is student leadership, intercultural capability, global citizenship and

Chinese language The individual school approach is open to all Victorian secondary schools with the

capability and resources to develop their own program

Cluster school model (new) Supports Victorians school to arrange a school cluster to participate in a four to six

week immersion experience with at least one active sister school in China. The learning focus is student leadership, intercultural capability and global citizenship. The cluster model approach is open to all Victorian secondary schools with the

capability and resources to develop their own program

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Program objectives for the VYL China Sister School Partnership (SSP) programThe VYL China SSP program is designed to:

enable schools to leverage existing partnership with their sister school/s in China provide the flexibility for schools to develop a four to six week immersion experience in China for

selected Year 9 students that aligns with their educational aims, within their Annual Implementation Plans and the FISO, and those of the sister school/s.

promote and support global learning and engagement in participating schools for the development of intercultural capability, student leadership and global citizenship

Applications for the 2020 VYL China SSP program are now open and will close on Tuesday 20 August 2019.

Program elementsSchools undertaking a VYL China SSP program must deliver the following program elements to maximise the benefits to students and schools:

a pre-departure program a four to six week immersion experience a post-program brief.

Program costsThe cost of the VYL China SSP program, including all core program elements, has been calculated to be $6900 per student. These costs are funded through a co-contribution model with the Department contributing $3900 and parents/guardians contributing the remaining $3000 per student. For students whose parent/guardian holds a current healthcare or pensioner concession card that lists the student by name, the entire cost of the program is funded by the Department. Please note that fully funded places are capped at 35% of total places in the program.

The Department will contribute $6900 per teacher for the accompanying teacher costs, noting that any teacher replacement cost is the responsibility of the participating school. The Department will also provide up to $3000 to a new lead school to establish and administer a cluster. Any incidental costs (e.g. passport, token gifts spending money) are the responsibility of the participating student/teacher.

Core program costs include:

all travel arrangements, including return airfares, visas and insurance for government schools accommodation, meals and activities organised by the Chinese partners curriculum materials

Under this arrangement, the Department will provide the above funding to the schools, who will manage all program expenditure and operational requirements. Funds will be disbursed to schools through the Schools Targeted Funding Portal in accordance with the Schools Targeted Funding Model.

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Program eligibility Victorian secondary schools with an active sister-school partnership in China Capacity for an experienced teacher to accompany every eight students (1:8 ratio, minimum eight

students) for four to six weeks in country Students enrolled in Year 9 in 2020

Program selection criteriaDemonstrated commitment to:

supporting a whole-of-school approach to global learning and engagement, particularly addressing key VYL China aims

supporting participating students and the accompanying teacher(s) to participate in the program promoting and sustaining VYL China for participating students, accompanying teacher(s), other

students and teachers, and the broader community to promote the benefits of the VYL China program.

School Roles and ResponsibilitiesBy participating in the VYL China SSP Program, schools must:

advocate and promote VYL China within the school or school cluster and the wider community provide administrative support to the program to ensure all information requests are met in a timely

manner integrate the 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 or cluster level so that students and their accompanying teachers

will be able to participate in all program elements including: pre-departure phase; the immersion component in China; post-program phase; and professional learning and development opportunities for teachers

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

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

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

commit to sharing and sustaining the benefits gained from participating in the program throughout the school or cluster and the wider community

ensure a robust four to six week in-country immersion program with a focus on student leadership, intercultural capability, global citizenship and Chinese language is provided to participating students and teachers, in partnership with the nominated sister school/s

commit financial and human resources to ensure the success of the program, use the allocated funding to administer all elements of the program, and provide a written post-program report and acquittal statement of funds to the Department within 14 days of return from the in-country program in China. For the cluster school model, this will be the responsibility of the lead school.

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make the required arrangements at school level to enable participation in an evaluation of the program. For the cluster school model, this will be the responsibility of the lead school

abide by any Department 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

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 Sister School Partnership program

Applications open 30 July 2019

Applications close 20 August 2019

Successful schools notified 20 September 2019

Program Implementation Plan requested 30 September 2019

Program Implementation Plan submitted 29 November 2019

Travel dates Any four to six week period in 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.aspxPlease email your enquiries to: vylc@edumail.vic.gov.au

OFFICE USE ONLYDate received:

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Individual School Application FormSchool 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: ________________________________________________________________________

Name of sister school in China:

Province:

Length of sister-school partnership:

Number of participants and proposed program datesPlease provide the estimated numbers of students and teachers who will be selected to participate in the four to six week immersion program, and the proposed program dates.

Number of students:

Number of teachers:

Proposed program dates

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

1. Provide evidence to demonstrate that your school has been actively engaged in the sister-school partnership (e.g. educational activities are conducted with the partner school on a regular basis and within six months prior to expression of interest).

2. Outline the commitment your school has made to the sister-school partnership (e.g. how it commits financial and human resources to the success of the partnership).

3. Outline your school’s experience in organising reciprocal visits with your sister school.

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4. Explain how participation in the program will enhance your sister-school partnership, and how your school will sustain the partnership and the outcomes of the immersion program into the future.

5. Describe the process you have undertaken to determine your sister school’s capacity to provide an appropriate four to six week immersion program for your students. For example, what experience does your sister-school have in the provision of curriculum to foreign students?

6. Explain how your school will evaluate the program.

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Principal StatementI confirm that our school, if successful in this application, will submit a Program Implementation Plan by 29 November 2019 that includes the following:

description of implementation implementation schedule implementation management risk management framework monitoring and evaluation plan.

I confirm that our school will complete the selection process of at least eight students who successfully meet the following criteria:

1. enrolled in Year 9 in 20202. willingness and capability to share and communicate their learning from the program3. demonstrated knowledge of, and interest in, Chinese language and culture4. demonstrated involvement in, and commitment to, school and community activities5. demonstrated readiness and suitability for the program.

I confirm that our school will select at least one accompanying teacher/school leader who successfully meets the following criteria:

1. outstanding ability to supervise Year 9 students and take care of their diverse needs 2. outstanding personal qualities to represent Victoria in an international setting, including speaking to

groups and participating in media events3. demonstrated experience in organising and leading student activities, camps and trips, including

international trips 4. ability to work as part of a team while in China to ensure all program objectives are met5. 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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School Cluster Application FormFor lead schools to complete

Lead 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: ________________________________________________________________________

Name of sister school in China:

Province:

Length of sister-school partnership:

Names of schools and their principals involved in the cluster:

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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Number of participants and proposed program dates Please provide the estimated numbers of students and teachers who will be selected to participate in the four to six week immersion program, and the proposed program dates.

Number of students:

Number of teachers:

Proposed program dates

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

1. Provide evidence to demonstrate that your school has been actively engaged in the sister-school partnership (e.g. educational activities are conducted with the partner school on a regular basis and within six months prior to expression of interest).

2. Outline the commitment your school has made to the sister-school partnership (e.g. how it commits financial and human resources to the success of the partnership).

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3. Outline your school’s experience in organising reciprocal visits with your sister school.

4. Explain how participation in the program will enhance your school’s sister-school partnership.

5. Describe the process you have undertaken to determine the sister school’s capacity to provide an appropriate four to six week immersion program for your students. For example, what experience does your sister school have in the provision of curriculum to foreign students?

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6. For each school participating in the cluster, please indicate in a few sentences why they have joined the cluster and the benefits they expect to realise. Please insert additional rows if more schools are involved in the cluster.

School 1:

School 2:

School 3:

School 4:

7. Explain how each school in your cluster will sustain the outcomes of the immersion program into the future.

8. Explain how your school will evaluate the program.

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Lead School’s Principal StatementI confirm that our school cluster, if successful in this application, will submit a Program Implementation Plan by 29 November 2019 that includes the following:

working arrangements within the school cluster description of implementation implementation schedule implementation management risk management framework monitoring and evaluation plan.

I confirm that our school cluster will complete the selection process for students who successfully meet the following criteria:

1. enrolled in Year 9 in 20202. willingness and capability to share and communicate their learning from the program3. demonstrated knowledge of, and interest in, Chinese language and culture4. demonstrated involvement in, and commitment to, school cluster activities5. demonstrated readiness and suitability for the program.

I confirm that our school will work with participating cluster schools to select an appropriate number of accompanying teachers/school leaders from participating schools to meet the 1:8 teacher–student ratio to accompany the students to China, who successfully meet the following criteria:

1. outstanding ability to supervise Year 9 students and take care of their diverse needs 2. outstanding personal qualities to represent Victoria in an international setting, including speaking to

groups and participating in media events3. demonstrated experience in organising and leading student activities, camps and trips, including

international trips 4. ability to work as part of a team while in China to ensure all program objectives are met5. ability to undertake and commit to professional learning and development opportunities in China to

strengthen professional practice.

Lead school principal’s signature: _________________________________ Date: ________________

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