Beijing Explore the Unknown

Study Tour Partnerships

Turn a learning objective into an experience the group can use.

BETU works with education organisations and programme teams to shape learning-focused group visits to China around the participants, learning priorities and practical requirements of the project.

Start with what the group should understand, experience or take away. The programme can then be developed around the most relevant learning environments, cultural context and coordination needs.

Adult institutional learning group engaging with a guide during a China study visit
Start with the Learning Objective

What should the group understand differently after the programme?

Learning goals guide the selection of settings and activities. A group brief connects those goals with relevant educational, cultural and practical experiences.

The Objective

What should participants understand, question, observe or be able to discuss after the programme?

Institutional Exchange

Connect the programme with education environments, institutional perspectives and opportunities for structured exchange.

Innovation & Future Skills

Explore how technology, changing industries and new systems are shaping future learning and careers.

Practical Exposure

Connect programme themes with applied environments, real-world observation and practical learning contexts.

Culture & Context

Understand contemporary China through place, culture, society and the context surrounding the learning theme.

Programme Design

Build the experience in layers.

A group programme can bring several forms of learning together. The balance depends on the audience, objective and available programme resources.

Learning

Academic, institutional or thematic content connected to the programme objective.

Exposure

Practical, industry or innovation environments relevant to what the group is exploring.

Context

Cultural, social and place-based understanding that helps participants read the experience more deeply.

Participation

Discussion, observation and group learning activities shaped around the programme.

Coordination

The practical structure that connects the different parts of the group experience.

Adult participants engaging in a practical learning visit in China
Learning in Motion

The places matter because of the questions participants bring to them.

Observation, context and discussion become more valuable when connected to a clear learning purpose.

Ways to Begin

Start with an existing programme or build from your own brief.

Some organisations may find an existing BETU Study Tour close to what they need. Others may begin with their own participant group, learning objective and programme priorities.

Adult learners exploring a cultural environment in China
Existing Study Tour

China Global Pathways

A student learning journey connecting entrepreneurship, culture, sustainability and global confidence.

Entrepreneurship · Culture · Sustainability · Global Perspective

Explore China Global Pathways
Adult learners engaging with a robotics learning demonstration
Existing Study Tour

Future Skills Innovation Lab

A future-facing learning programme connecting technology exposure with AI, digital economy, engineering systems and career readiness.

AI · Digital Economy · Engineering Systems · Career Readiness

Explore Future Skills Innovation Lab
Institutional programme team discussing an educational group visit
Custom Starting Point

Custom Study Tours

Begin with your own group, learning objective and programme priorities, then explore a structure designed around that institutional brief.

Group Profile · Learning Objective · Programme Design

Explore Custom Study Tours
Coordination

One programme.
Several moving parts.

A useful institutional programme needs the learning objective, participant needs, China-side resources and practical responsibilities to work together as one project.

The Organisation

Defines the group context, learning priorities and the resources already available.

  • Group profile
  • Learning priorities
  • Internal coordination

Programme Design

Shapes the learning structure and identifies the combination of experiences relevant to the brief.

  • Learning themes
  • Experience mix
  • Programme rhythm

China-Side Coordination

Brings together the relevant education, practical, cultural and implementation resources for the proposed programme.

  • Resource coordination
  • Local implementation
  • Programme communication

Agreed Project Scope

Clarifies the practical responsibilities, communication process and programme elements before implementation.

  • Responsibilities
  • Programme confirmation
  • Working arrangements
Evidence in Practice

From a group brief to a coordinated programme.

Indonesian education delegation attending an institutional working session in China
A Real Programme

June 2025 Indonesian education delegation in China

Project Type
International education delegation
Period
June 2025
Locations
Xi'an · Beijing · Shenzhen
Focus
Education · Industry · Institutional exchange

Explore Unknown organised a week-long Indonesian Ministry of Education delegation in China, bringing education and industry visits across three cities into one coordinated programme.

From Brief to Programme

Move from the first idea to a programme that can be implemented.

The planning process can begin before every detail is known. The first task is to make the objective and group clear enough to develop a workable programme concept.

01

Brief

Understand the organisation, group and learning objective.

02

Programme Concept

Shape the experience mix around the learning priorities and practical context.

03

Resource Coordination

Explore the environments and resources relevant to the proposed programme.

04

Agreed Programme Scope

Define the working structure, responsibilities and practical programme requirements.

05

First Programme & Review

Implement the agreed programme and use the review to inform what comes next.

Your Study Tour Brief

A useful first brief makes the possibilities clearer.

You do not need a finished itinerary to begin. Share what your organisation already knows about the group, the learning objective and the programme context.

Discuss a Study Tour Partnership

The first conversation can clarify the programme direction, the information still needed and the most practical next step.

Organisation

What type of organisation is planning the programme?

Group Profile

Who are the intended participants and what is their background?

Learning Objective

What should participants understand, explore or take away?

Preferred Period

What approximate period are you considering?

China Focus

Are there locations, themes or environments already relevant to the brief?

Approximate Scale

What approximate group size or project scale are you considering?

Programme Priorities

Which educational, cultural, innovation or practical themes matter most?

Practical Requirements

What practical programme needs are already known?

Existing Programme

Is one of BETU's current Study Tours already close to what you need?

Support Required

What would you like BETU to help design, coordinate or explore?

Education professionals planning a customised study tour programme
Start a Study Tour Conversation

Bring the learning objective. We can work through the programme together.

Tell us who the programme is for, what the group should gain from it and what you already know about the timing or priorities.

The first discussion can be used to identify the most relevant starting point, clarify the information still needed and determine what should happen next.

Study Tour Partnerships FAQ

Questions to clarify before planning begins.

Who is Study Tour Partnerships for?
The page is designed for education organisations and programme teams exploring a learning-focused group visit to China, including universities, colleges, vocational institutions, education groups, training organisations and other relevant institutional groups.
Do we need a complete itinerary before contacting BETU?
A useful first discussion can begin with the group profile, learning objective, preferred period, programme priorities and any practical requirements already known.
Can we begin from an existing BETU Study Tour?
Yes. China Global Pathways and Future Skills Innovation Lab provide existing Study Tour starting points, while Custom Study Tours offers a route for organisations beginning from their own brief.
Can a programme be designed around our own learning objective?
Yes. Study Tour planning can begin with the organisation's audience and learning priorities, then explore a programme structure around the relevant educational, cultural, innovation and practical contexts.
Can different types of learning experience be combined?
A programme can be structured around a mix of learning, practical exposure, cultural context and group activities where those components fit the agreed programme objective and available resources.
How are programme responsibilities agreed?
Responsibilities are clarified around the actual project, including the roles of the organisation, BETU and the relevant programme or resource providers involved in the agreed scope.
How are locations and activities selected?
Locations and programme activities should be explored around the learning objective, participant profile, preferred period and practical requirements of the group.
Can a first programme be used as a pilot?
Where appropriate, an organisation can begin with a defined first programme, review the experience and feedback, and use that evidence to inform the next stage.
What information should we prepare for the first discussion?
Useful starting information includes your organisation, participant profile, learning objective, preferred period, approximate scale, programme priorities and the support you would like BETU to explore.
What happens after the first discussion?
The next step depends on the project. The discussion can be used to clarify the programme direction, identify information still needed and determine whether an existing Study Tour or a custom programme route is the best starting point.
International adult learning group moving together through a contemporary China education setting
Study Tour Partnerships

Bring the learning objective.
Build the journey around it.

Start with the group, the learning priorities and what you want the programme to make possible.

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