A joint project between Holland College and Malaspina College received an award from the government of Sichuan Province recently for work that was part of the Enhanced Rural Teacher Training Project.

The In-service Teaching Training Handbook received the First Class Education Award for Outstanding Achievements in Scientific Research. In total, there are 23 first class awards, 67 second class awards and 155 third class awards, and 97 outstanding awards selected from 1680 proposals.

Holland College President Brian McMillan said receiving the award was an honour.

“Recognizing the significant education initiatives started under China’s educational reform, this award is a testimonial to the quality of work exhibited by the Canadian team. We are honoured and humbled to have been recognized, and look forward to seeing the advancement made by our Chinese educational colleagues,” he noted.

The award was presented by Mr. Jiang Shulin, Deputy Minister of Sichuan Provincial Department of Education in Chengdu in recognition of the contribution made by the Canadian partners in this achievement.  Dr. Brian McMillan, President of Holland College, and Jolene Chan, Manager, International Office - Asian Pacific Region at the college accepted the award on behalf of the Canadian project team.

“The handbook is a significant deliverable of this project. We don’t know how much impact this project has on the education system now, but I am sure we will see a lot of changes on the teaching ideas which come from this project after ten years,” Jolene Chan noted.

The goal of the ERTT project was to increase student success in rural and remote ethnic minority populations of Sichuan province by enhancing the learning environment in the critical early years of schooling through improved in-service training and support for kindergarten and primary school teachers. Holland College was the leading Canadian college in the project, which also included Malaspina College. The project received funding from the Canadian International Development Agency.

In this picture: Jolene Chan, Manager, International Office - Asian Pacific Region shows the Enhance Rural Teacher Training handbook which won an award from the government of Sichuan Province in China recently.