By Excellence First Enterprise Consultancy (EFEC).
A Model of Collaboration— LSBU & NJUIT
In June 2025, London South Bank University (LSBU) and Nanjing Vocational University of Industry Technology (NJUIT) launched a pioneering joint institute approved by China’s Ministry of Education: the LSBU–NJUIT Joint Institute for Engineers. (lsbu.ac.uk)
This institute marks a major achievement in UK–China transnational vocational education. Under this model:
- UK and Chinese faculty co-design programmes and share teaching methods under a unified quality framework.
- Students graduate with both Chinese and UK degrees — credentials recognised in both countries — without needing to study abroad as part of the standard requirement.
- The institute is widely regarded in China as a pioneering approach to transnational higher education — linking educational ideals, industry alignment, and international perspectives.
The LSBU–NJUIT Joint Institute illustrates what is possible when institutions from both countries commit to shared values, strong quality assurance, and mutual investment.
EFEC’s Track Record — Since 2016
Before the LSBU–NJUIT initiative, Excellence First Enterprise Consultancy (EFEC) had already been contributing to the development of UK–China partnerships. Since 2016, EFEC has worked across multiple fronts to build trust, exchange best practice, and support sustainable collaboration.
- Strategic Partnerships: EFEC has worked with Phoenix Publishing & Media Group (PPMG) — one of China’s largest and most internationally recognised educational publishing and media companies— and its subsidiary 凤凰职教 (Phoenix Vocational Education). This collaboration positioned EFEC to contribute to national discussions on vocational education reform and international cooperation.
2017 UK–China Vocational Education Summit: In October 2017, the “中英职业教育峰会” (UK–China Vocational Education Summit) was held in Nanjing, co-organized by Jiangsu government bodies, PPMG, and EFEC, among others. The event brought together over a hundred leaders from government, universities and industry from both countries to share perspectives on vocational education internationalisation.
- Thought Leadership: EFEC co-founder Paul Beashel’s book Mind the Gap (Jiangsu Education Press, 2017) provided a comparative analysis of UK and Chinese vocational systems, focusing on how to bridge the gap between education and workplace demands.
- Professional Exchange & Capacity Building:
The following activities and images show EFEC-facilitated international exchanges and study tours carried out prior to the pandemic, which have now fully resumed.
EFEC organised study tours, leadership exchanges and teacher development activities in China and the UK, giving educators opportunities to learn from each other’s systems.
- Support for Local Reform: Working with Shanghai’s Xuhui and Pudong districts and numerous vocational colleges, EFEC has helped improve curriculum design, pedagogy and assessment for teachers and school leaders.
These activities have helped build the relationships, knowledge and practical experience needed to support larger-scale partnerships.
EFEC’s Role in Facilitating Future Projects
EFEC plays an active, hands-on role in supporting institutions to build and sustain cross-border partnerships.
Drawing on years of on-the-ground experience and trusted relationships in both countries, EFEC helps institutions avoid common pitfalls, accelerate approvals and ensure their projects achieve regulatory compliance and sustainable delivery.
We assist institutions to:
- Identify appropriate partners — connecting UK universities and Chinese vocational institutions whose strengths align and whose vision for outcomes is compatible.
- Navigate regulatory pathways — providing guidance through China’s Ministry of Education processes and supporting UK validation and quality assurance.
- Design robust delivery models — co-teaching frameworks, dual oversight, shared curriculum standards and sustainable funding.
- Develop staff capacity — training, exchange and mentorship to help teachers and leaders deliver at international standards.
We have successfully supported smaller pilot projects and are now seeking to collaborate with institutions on larger-scale partnerships inspired by the LSBU–NJUIT model — acting as a professional facilitator from concept to launch and beyond.
An Invitation to Collaborate
If you represent a UK higher education institution interested in exploring transnational partnerships in China, or a Chinese vocational university seeking an experienced UK partner — EFEC welcomes the opportunity to work with you.
Since 2016, Excellence First Enterprise Consultancy has been building connections and practical expertise that can help make UK–China educational partnerships effective and sustainable.
We invite institutions to:
- Explore models similar to LSBU–NJUIT adapted to their own strengths.
- Co-create joint programmes or institutions with clear standards and mutual benefits.
- Work with EFEC as a neutral and experienced facilitator to ensure regulatory compliance, quality assurance and long-term sustainability.
Conclusion
EFEC’s journey — from Mind the Gap, the 2017 Summit, through years of capacity building, to today — demonstrates the potential of sustained UK–China collaboration in higher and vocational education. We look forward to working with universities and vocational institutions to develop the next generation of partnerships that benefit students, faculty and industry on both sides.