The world is changing.
It's changing rapidly.
There's an obligation on universities like mine to ensure we've enhanced the opportunities
that our students have in a interconnected global world.
China obviously is a very big market, a market with a very strong growth trajectory.
Understanding all that we can about what's going on out there,
and continuing to be part of what's going on out there is absolutely essential to the British economy.
Living in a world of globalization we fully and deeply understand the meaning
of interdependence. We need to work together to fight the common challenges of the world.
We started Generation UK in 2013 with the ambition to encourage
more young British nationals, regardless of their backgrounds, to come to China
to both study and intern.
We now have roughly 10,000 young people from the UK coming here every year.
You have a deeper understanding when you're actually living and speaking Chinese.
You learn a lot from your colleagues.
We build stronger business links,
better friendships, and connections and understanding of each other.
You become more creative - you can blend best of both worlds.
I studied Chinese for a year.
It was fantastic.
In a very competitive jobs market,
having Generation UK and my experience in China definitely
contributed to the job that I have now.
My work kind of covers the Asia-Pacific region including China.
If I was to pay for it myself to come here it wasn't viable.
If I never applied I wouldn't have had the idea for my tearoom business.
It's definitely an opportunity today for entrepreneurs to come here and create
and have that epiphany.
I come from quite a small little village in Northern Ireland.
I spent a year studying the language, studying the culture, the history,
which led to working as an architectural designer in Shanghai
The big difference is just the pace of things.
Things move incredibly fast.
It was the other side of the world,
and that was incredibly exciting.
My horizons are broadened more than I ever thought they could.
The experience in China was fantastic.
I've grown in so different ways - my confidence and emotional intelligence, flexibility.
Currently I'm on a business leadership program.
I'm able to dive into the deep end of a lot of things,
and understand and work with different cultures, different countries,
and that stemmed a lot for my Chinese experience
As an HR director looking through somebody's CV, a pretty unique experience
on the ground in a market like China is an instant flag for interest.
The future of our bilateral relations depends on how we help and nurture our young generation,
The future leaders of our countries.
it's clear that the Generation UK experience builds the sorts of global citizens that excel and are able
to be leaders of the future, and that can only benefit British society and enhance
the interests of the United Kingdom
I personally think it's a great opportunity and I would encourage
everybody to really think through what the Generation UK China program could offer them.