At the invitation of the Ministry of Education of the People?s Republic of China ( hereafter referred to as ?PRC side?), a delegation from the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Singapore (hereafter referred to as ?Singapore side?) led by RADM Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Education of the Republic of Singapore, visited PRC from 23 June to 26 June 1999. During the visit, based on the principle of equality, friendship and mutual understanding, both parties the two countries. In order to consolidate and promote mutual educational exchanges and cooperation, both parties agreed to sign the ?MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON EXCHANGES AND COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION BETWEEN THE MINISTRIES OF EDUCATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE AND THE PEOPLE?S REPUBLIC OF CHINA?.


Ⅰ GENERAL

The objective of this Memorandum of Understanding is to further promote and formalise the exchanges in the field of education, and to consolidate and strengthen the educational exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.

Ⅱ EXCHANGE OF DELEGATIONS

1,During the period of this Memorandum of Understanding, both parties shall exchange a delegation in the field of education every year, of 45-50 man-day, so as to further strengthen their links and mutual understanding.

2,The visiting party shall bear the international travelling expenses of the delegation, and the hosting party shall bear the expenses of the delegation in the host country. Detailed arrangements are to be agreed upon.

Ⅲ EXCHANGE OF STUDENTS

1,During the period of this Memorandum of Understanding, both parties shall exchange 10 students on a one-year scholarship ( including undergraduates, postgraduates and students on continual education). The conditions for eligibility and the criteria for awarding the scholarships shall be determined in accordance with the relevant regulations of each country.

Both parties may, based on its needs, convert the number of the above-mentioned scholarships, in proportion to the duration, into an equivalent number of shorter-term awards for sending scholars to pursue short-term studies in the other country.

The visiting party shall bear the cost of international travel of these scholars.

2,Both parties shall encourage and support the relevant organisations and universities in their countries to provide scholarships or other forms of financial assistance for students from the other county, and facilitate the studies and research of such students in their respective countries.

Ⅳ EXCHANGE OF TEACHERS AND LANGUAGE TEACHING

1,Singapore side shall continue to offer 35 scholarships ( including 5 from Hainan Province) to train the PRC English Language teachers of higher institutions. Subject to the agreement of the teachers and PRC side, the Singapore side can select from these teachers, not more than 5 trainees each year, for pursuing a Masters programme, the duration of which should be no longer than one year.

PRC side shall appoint China Scholarship Council(CSC) to nominate the candidates to Singapore, and Singapore side shall assign National Institute of Education (NIE) to select and train the teachers.

PRC side shall bear the international travelling expenses of the teachers, and Singapore side shall bear the expenses of these teachers during their period of study in Singapore.

2,At the request of the Singapore side, PRC side shall assist Singapore in the teaching of Chinese language.

PRC side shall offer 3 scholarships a year, of 6 weeks? duration each, for the Chinese Language teachers from Singapore to attend training courses on Chinese language teaching methodologies.

PRC side shall assist the Singapore side in recruiting not more than 60 PRC teachers a year to teach Chinese Language in Singapore schools. PRC side shall assign a related organisation to work with an organisation assigned by the Singapore side on the recruitment of these PRC Chinese Language teachers. Detailed arrangements are to be agreed upon by these appointed organisations.

Both parties shall support their relevant organisations in the collaboration to develop Chinese Language instructional materials for the learning of Chinese Language in Singapore, and to provide the necessary conditions for the successful undertaking of such collaborations.

Ⅴ ACADEMIC EXCHANGE AND COOPERATION AT THE LEVEL OF THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

1. Both parties shall encourage direct exchanges and cooperation between their universities in the field of mutual interest, including exchanging lecturers/professors to give lectures and organising academic conferences/seminars.

2. Both parties shall encourage their universities to update each other with information concerning teaching and scientific research, and exchange teaching materials and publications.

Ⅵ COOPERATION ON SPECIFIC EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMMES

Both parties may, based on their needs, undertake collaborations in specific education and training programmes. Details of the cooperation can be jointly discussed at a later stage.

Ⅶ IMPLEMENTATION AND CONSULTATIONS

1. Both parties shall be responsible for the implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding. Any problems arising from the implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding or confusion with the interpretation of its clauses shall be resolved by mutual consultation between both parties.

2. A joint working group shall be established with a view to supervising the implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding. The joint working group shall comprise 2 members from each party can invite one of its professional experts in the field of education to sit in this joint working group. Meeting of the joint working group shall be held at a mutually convenient time.

Ⅷ THE TERM OF VALIDITY

This Memorandum of Understanding will take effect upon signature and will remain valid for a period of 3 years. It shall be automatically extended for another 3 years in the absence of objection from either party. Should either party wish to terminate this Memorandum of Understanding, the intention has to be communicated to the other party through diplomatic channels six months in advance.

This Memorandum of Understanding is signed in duplicate in Beijing on 23 June 1999, in Chinese and English languages, both texts being equally authentic.