ILMCUAC: Chinese University Administrators Course

Module code: ILMCUAC

Module provider: Global Academy

Credits: 0

Level: 7

When you’ll be taught: Double Presentation: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Carrie Zhang, email: c.x.zhang@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 8 April 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module represents a 3-month Programme delivered annually for a selected group of university administrators in various senior roles, form China, sponsored by the China Scholarship Council.

The main aim of the course/module is to enable the participants to have an good understanding of aspects of British Higher Education management that they can then use to positively influence their working practice on their return to China.

A subsidiary aim is to build cultural understanding, reflective practice and networking, in part by improving English language skills.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Identify salient aspects of student and other services in British Higher Education and relate relevant aspects to personal responsibilities in their context.
2. Develop an international perspective of their own working practices.
3. Devise personal reflective practice techniques.
4. Improve English Language skills to help enable social and professional practice in intercultural contexts.

Module content

1. Trends and issues in university/student administration in UK Higher Education (multiple topics, e.g. student funding, quality assurance, student welfare, student discipline, Academic Tutorials, study advice, student unions, etc.)
2. Site visits (to other universities in the UK, to receive further context of the real work environment in various contexts)
3. Educational/cultural visits, with contextual lectures and discussion.
4. English Language Development (emphasis on oral communication skills, vocabulary and cultural knowledge).
5. Reflective Practice

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module takes place intensively over 13 weeks.

Teaching sessions as lectures and sometimes seminars take place each morning, Afternoon sessions vary between, tutorials, half-day visits and free study time. Specific formative task-based assignments are given regularly, to encourage reflection and discussion.

There are around 15 contact hours per week.

Lectures and seminars are delivered with live interpreting into Chinese when necessary.

Study hours

At least 200 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

There is no assessment on this module

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

There is no assessment on this module

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

The module provides practice of working on formative tasks collaboratively, on a daily basis. The default format of classes is workshop style.

Reassessment

Additional costs