Mandarin Teachers Scheme: Work Permit for Confucius Institute (Hanban)

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A decision made 11 May 2016:

Decision Reference: MD-HA-2016-0037
Decision Summary Title :	Work Permit for Confucius Institute (Hanban) Mandarin Teachers Scheme		Date of Decision Summary:	29 April 2016
Decision Summary Author:	Director, Revenue and Immigration		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	Confucius Institute (Hanban) Mandarin Teachers Scheme		Date of Written Report:	29 April 2016
Written Report Author:	Director, Revenue and Immigration		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Subject: Work Permit for Confucius Institute (Hanban) Mandarin Teachers Scheme.
Decision(s): The Assistant Minister authorised Officers from the Customs and Immigration Service to issue a work permit, subject to a satisfactory application, for a teacher from a Confucius Institute (Hanban) in China to teach Mandarin at Hautlieu.
Reason(s) for Decision: Hautlieu has been awarded Confucius Classroom status. The scheme aims to build and/or enhance foreign language skills and foster good relations between Jersey and China. Furthermore, as this is a supernumerary role there is no risk that a resident worker will be displaced or excluded as a result of issuing a work permit for this placement.
Resource Implications: None
Action required: Customs and Immigration Officers to process a work permit application for a teacher from a Confucius Institute (Hanban) in China to teach Mandarin at Hautlieu.
Signature:		Position: Assistant Minister for Home Affairs
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Mandarin Teachers Scheme: Work Permit for Confucius Institute (Hanban)

States_Spot

Community and Constitutional Affairs

Customs and Immigration Service

To: Minister for Home Affairs

Submitted by: Mark Cockerham, Director Revenue and Immigration

Date: 29 April 2016

Subject: Confucius Institute (Hanban) Mandarin Teachers Scheme

Introduction

This report relates to a request from the Education Department for guidance on the immigration requirements to employ, for a period of 24 months, a teacher from a Confucius Institute (Hanban) in China, to teach Mandarin at Hautlieu.

Background

The scheme is part of Hanban’s global exchange programme through which Mandarin teachers undertake placements at Confucius institutes and classrooms in the United Kingdom. These roles are not filling vacancies. The scheme aims to build and/or enhance foreign language skills and foster good cultural relations between the United Kingdom and China. In 2015 Hautlieu was awarded Confucius Classroom status.

In the United Kingdom this was incorporated as a category in the Immigration Rules under the Approved Tier 5 government authorised exchange scheme. For United Kingdom purposes it is treated as a Points-Based application. In addition, applicants are not required to meet an English language requirement in order to obtain a visa which is issued for a maximum of 24 months. As this points-based assessment is not used in Jersey, all applications to employ non-EEA nationals, unless it is in a permit free category, are considered against the Immigration (Work Permits) (Jersey) Rules 1995.

It is expected that as a result of this scheme many language and cultural opportunities are going to be made available to Hautlieu students and Jersey as a whole. The Education Department has indicated that at the end of the 2-year period the teacher will be replaced by another professional Mandarin teacher under this scheme.

Recommendation

There is strong ministerial support for this initiative. In addition, as this is a supernumerary role there is no risk that a resident worker will be displaced or excluded as a result of issuing a work permit for this placement. It is therefore recommended that the Minister authorises officers in the Customs and Immigration Service to issue a work permit when an application is received from the Education Department.

Mark Cockerham

Director, Revenue and Immigration