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Macmillan Science & Education launch Chinese head office in Shanghai
Release of Discover China Strengthens Macmillan’s Presence in Global Chinese Language Teaching (CLT) Market
Shanghai, June 5th 2013: Macmillan Science and Education and Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press (FLTRP) are launching the third level of award-winning Chinese Language Teaching (CLT) course, Discover China.
The groundbreaking, four-level university course has garnered continued acclaim. A highly innovative learning programme pioneering a communicative, integrated approach to learning Chinese, Discover China offers a series of stimulating topics, integrated task-based speaking activities, and relevant exercises in real-life contexts. Its focus on communication enables learners to make rapid improvements and use Chinese in day-to-day situations. Engaging students with both cutting-edge content and innovative technology, Discover China has accelerated retention in learners at all levels and significantly increased effectiveness in learning what, for many, is a difficult language. Discover China has also been awarded ‘Best Export Title’ by the General Administration for Press and Publication (GAPP) of China.
Macmillan Education organizes regular teacher training workshops and programs around the world to equip teachers with the skills needed to exploit fully this novel approach in CLT. Recent events were held in the UK at the British Council in London, Warwick University and, in conjunction with the local Confucius Institute, at Manchester University.
Discover China is one of several Macmillan CLT products, establishing the company’s presence in this fast growing demand for Chinese language learning around the world and for all age groups. Other publications include the Chinese Character Dictionary and Tian Tian Zhongwen, a graded Chinese reader series.
Among CLT researchers and academics, Discover China has been lauded as a breakthrough in Chinese language learning. Tang Chiu Kay, Professor of the School of Chinese at Hong Kong University said: “Discover China replaces rote memorization and drills adopted by standard Mandarin textbooks with a wide variety of enjoyable activities and interesting role-plays in the context of everyday life in modern China”.
Simon Allen, Chief Executive of Macmillan Education, said: “We are seeing a strong growth in Chinese language learning around the world. This trend is to stay as China becomes not only an economic powerhouse, but also increasingly integrated with the global community. Macmillan’s global leadership in English Language Teaching (ELT) allows us to expand into CLT leveraging our language education expertise and global sales and marketing infrastructure. We are pleased to work with our long-term partners FLTRP to bring Discover China to Chinese language teachers and students across the globe.”
Cai Jianfeng, President at FLTRP said: “Discover China is a new milestone in FLTRP-Macmillan cooperation. Building on more than 10 years of cooperation experience in ELT publishing, FLTPR and Macmillan decided to co-publish Discover China to meet the increasing demand from Chinese language learners across the world. With combined strengths, FLTRP and Macmillan will continue to provide top-quality Chinese learning products and services to the world market.”
Discover China level 4 will be published in January 2014, completing the series for university students and adult learners of Chinese.
Contact:
Lydia Chen, Communication Specialist of Macmillan Science and Education
E-mail: lydia.chen@macmillan.com
Meng Jiawen, CLT Editor of Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press
E-mail: mengjw@fltrp.com
Macmillan Science and Education is a global division of the family-owned Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. Recently established, the division is home to the Macmillan businesses which empower those with curious minds to achieve great things. Through the provision of high-quality content and services to scientists, educationalists, students and academics around the world, Macmillan is changing the way students learn, teachers teach and scientists discover. Operating in over 50 countries with some 5000 employees, the division consists of Nature Publishing Group (NPG), Palgrave Macmillan, Macmillan Education, Macmillan Higher Education, Digital Science, Digital Education and Macmillan New Ventures. For more information, please see http://www.learndiscover.com.
Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press (FLTRP) is an academic and educational publisher based in Beijing. Founded in 1979 by Beijing Foreign Studies University, FLTRP has since developed into the largest foreign languages publisher and university press in China. FLTRP publishes in more than 40 foreign languages and Chinese. Its publications cover not only language learning materials, but also natural sciences and social sciences. To find out more about FLTRP, please visit http://www.fltrp.com.
Macmillan Science and Education, a global division of one of the largest and best-known publishing and technology companies in the world will today host the official opening of a new regional office, based in Shanghai. The office will strengthen Macmillan’s ability to serve the fast growing scientific research and education sectors in China.
The office will provide strategic leadership, business management and support functions to Macmillan’s Science businesses in Greater China, and Scholarly and Education businesses in Asia. Along with Macmillan’s existing footprint in Tokyo, Hong Kong and other locations in Asia, the new Shanghai office will provide high-quality content and solutions to transform learning and discovery, and improve the way students learn, teachers teach and scientists discover in the region.
Led by Charlotte Liu, Managing Director, Macmillan Science (Greater China) and Education (Asia), the Shanghai-based team will bring the best practices, products and services from Macmillan Science & Education’s global network, to help Chinese researchers and language learners achieve greater success. The office will also be instrumental in delivering Chinese language learning content, scientific discovery and other products from China to a global audience, using Macmillan’s highly established infrastructure and network.
Liu, a native of Shanghai, has spent fifteen years working in international publishing in both the USA and China. A graduate of English Language & Literature from Fudan University, Shanghai, she also has a MBA from Dartmouth College, USA. The office, based in the Xuhui district of Shanghai is staffed by both Chinese staff and international colleagues who have transferred from other offices across Macmillan’s global network. Together they have strong insights of both the Chinese and global markets.
At the opening ceremony which took place at the prestigious Shanghai Science Hall, Macmillan signed a Framework of Cooperation with the Shanghai Association for Science & Technology (SAST), pledging a five year alliance to stimulate international co-operation in the fields of science and technology, to nurture local talent and promote the success of Chinese scientists to the global stage.
Annette Thomas, CEO of Macmillan Science & Education explains the motivating forces behind the Shanghai opening. “I am extremely proud of our many successes in the region over the past decade and this investment in Shanghai reflects our confidence and enthusiasm for the opportunities ahead. We envisage that we can make a major contribution to driving the rise of China’s contribution to global science, technology and innovative learning. Macmillan is perfectly placed to be an active partner with China in this exciting journey.”
Macmillan’s science and education brands have been serving customers in the region for over a decade; its current strategy of forming alliances with local partners has already proved highly successful. Together with FLTRP, Macmillan co-publishes the highly acclaimed, Ministry of Education approved, “New Standard English” series, enabling students from kindergarten to college in more than 20 provinces across China to learn English more effectively. The companies have also successfully co-produced Chinese language learning products under the Discover China brand, and a new bi-lingual science learning course for primary schools. Education products and ecosystems from Macmillan Higher Education and Nature Education are also used in the growing higher education sector in China.
The Nature Publishing Group (NPG) has long been collaborating with research institutions in China to improve the quality and global impact of science journals originating from China. NPG currently publishes seven journals in collaboration with partners in China, including Cell Research, one of the highest ranked Chinese journals in impact factor. Customized training programs are also offered to help Chinese researchers improve their research writing and communications skills, and become more successful in publishing their research results in high quality journals. In the area of popular science, the Chinese language edition of Scientific American, published under the name of Global Science, is a collaboration with the Chinese Association of Science & Technology, and has contributed to science popularization in general public in China.
Contacts
Lydia Chen lydia.chen@macmillan.com
Lisa Hulme, lisa.hulme@macmillan.com
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