A delegation of educationalists from China has visited the North-East for an expert view on how vocational education works in Britain.

The delegation, from the Chongqing region of China, has been impressed with the way the North-East's industry and education worlds link together to develop training programmes, which in turn helps the local economy.

The visit was organised by Alan McArthur on behalf of Trade Partners UK and the British Council office in Chongqing so that the Chongqing Municipal Education Commission can establish its vocational skills and training programme there.

During their three-day stay the delegation of ten visited Northumbria University, City of Sunderland College, TTE Management and Technical Training at its offices at ICI Wilton on Teesside, Middlesbrough College and Teesside University.

Mr McArthur said: "The British Council has set up a three-year programme to establish a vocational education system and are keen to learn from the experience we have gained in the UK.

"The aim is that they can return to China and work out how best to develop and adapt the UK system to meet their own needs."