The Virtual High School Partners with CERNET Education in First-of-its-Kind Collaboration to Bring Core Courses to ESL Students in China
Boston, MA (PRWEB) June 16, 2016 -- The Virtual High School (VHS Inc.), an educational non-profit offering schools and parents the industry’s best online learning programs, has partnered with CERNET Education, the designated education company of CERNET (China Education and Research Network), the first nationwide education and research computer network in China. The first phase of the newly minted alliance will involve the development of three core subjects for release in fall 2016. These unique courses will combine non-streaming and streaming elements for ESL education that address specific needs identified by CERNET Education related to Chinese students. The courses will also be available to other international students. Three additional courses will be offered for spring 2017 enrollment.
“Many native Chinese speakers are determined to learn English as a second language and take courses in English,” said Carol Ribeiro, President and CEO of VHS. “There is a serious need for core courses for Chinese ESL learners taught by teachers well-equipped to work with Mandarin-speaking students. Our goal with this partnership is to help students prepare for future education by enhancing their English skills through cohort-based interactive courses that can help them succeed in college study.”
For the last twenty years, the VHS mission has been to provide middle and high school students with access to high-quality online and blended learning experiences while supporting educators with the professional development and services they need to provide effective education for every student. Schools and parents that partner with VHS have access to a wide range of core, elective, credit recovery and AP® courses that inspire, ignite and deepen learning. VHS helps students develop independent learning skills, prepare for college and careers, earn credit, and engage with their peers in global classrooms.
CERNET Education, established by China Education and Research Network (CERNET), is dedicated to international education and online education. CERNET, the first nationwide Internet backbone in China built by Tsinghua University and other leading Chinese universities, is the country’s largest computer network for academic organizations and an important platform for China’s remote learning initiative.
“CERNET Education has a mission to globalize education,” said Yidong Zhu, the Executive President of CERNET Education. “We have developed and established international education programs in the US since 2008, such as the ESL school, Massachusetts International Academy. CERNET serves more than 2,000 universities, research institutions and education centers, and more than 25 million end users access it. With abundant education resources and this significant partnership, we can continue to expand and enhance our international and online education offerings enabling thousands of students to enroll in US schools.”
About The Virtual High School Inc.
The Virtual High School (VHS Inc.) is an online learning pioneer. Since 1996, the nonprofit organization based in Massachusetts has set the standard for quality online education. VHS provides courses taught in global online classrooms for secondary school students and online professional development for educators. The organization also meets the unique educational needs of schools through custom course development and individualized course offerings. VHS design and delivery standards are the model used by the National Education Association in their recommended standards for online learning. The organization has won numerous awards, including the Stockholm Challenge Award for Global Excellence in Information Technology, and is a three-time winner of the United States Distance Learning Association’s (USDLA) award for Excellence in Programming and Excellence in Best Practices. For more information, visit http://www.TheVirtualHighSchool.org or call (978) 897-1900.
# # #
Charlotte Andrist, Nickel Communications, http://www.nickelcommpr.com, +1 (770) 310-5244, [email protected]
Share this article