“Do social entrepreneurs exist in China? If so, who are they?” The answer to the first question is a resounding YES, and these questions led to the idea to put together this book, the first of its kind to introduce the exciting development of social entrepreneurship in China.

The book features ten stories that cover 13 social entrepreneurs. They came from very different backgrounds: ‘China Rabbit King’, REN Xuping, left school when he was just 14 years old because of poverty; the two young founders of Venture in Development, Marie and Carol, first got to know ‘social entrepreneurism’ at the Kennedy School in Harvard; the founders of Wu Qi Training School, 1kg More and Love Farms were once urban white-collar workers; LV Zhao (founder of NPI) and SHEN Dongshu (CEO of Fu Ping) were very successful businessmen before they decided to devote themselves to the nonprofit world.

For more about the book, table of contents, and how to purchase the book, please visit Global Links Initiative.

Changes to Tier 4 student visa applications from today 3 March 2010 (03/03/2010)

Following the earlier announcement of a new set of measures to tighten the criteria on student Tier 4 visa applications, the following changes come into effect from today 3 March 2010:

* The minimum level of English language course has been raised to level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Students will therefore need a higher level of English at a minimum level of B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages to come and study an English language course in the UK.  Exceptions apply to Government sponsored students and specific pre-sessional English courses.
* If you are coming to study below degree level (excluding foundation degree students) you will only be able to work 10 hours a week (this has been reduced from 20 hours).
* If you are studying for a course under Tier 4 for less than 6 months, you will no longer be able to bring your dependants.
* Dependants of anyone studying a course lower than degree level (excluding those on foundation degree courses) will no longer be able to work (unless they qualify in their own right under Tier 1 (General) as a highly skilled migrant or as a skilled worker under Tier 2 General, sportsperson or minister of religion).

If you have submitted and paid for your application before 3 March 2010, you will be considered against the rules in force at the time.

Please check the Tier 4 General and Child Student guidance on this website for full details of the changes.

Further changes will be introduced from April 2010.

Piccadilly Revisited is a film, dance, drama and music performance
inspired by the life and loves of Hollywood’s first Chinese film star,
Anna May Wong, and the classic British silent movie Piccadilly (1929) in which she played a starring role.

Wong was a celebrated actress who worked with Dietrich and Olivier,
graced the pages of Vogue, Tatler and Vanity Fair, and the song These
Foolish Things was written for her. Chinatown Arts Space is delighted
to celebrate her achievements in this, her seminal film directed by
E.A. Dupont.

7:45pm, 30-31 March 2010

Linbury Studio Theatre
Royal Opera House
Covent Garden
London WC2E 9DD

Tickets:
£12, £10, standing £5
Concessions including students
and ROH Access Scheme £8
Box Office:
020 7304 4000
www.roh.org.uk

Actress Calita Leong Rainford as Anna May Wong
Dancers Yuyu Rau & Quang Kien Van
Music com posed & performed by Suki Mok & Ruth Chan
Choreography by Sin-Man Yue & Nguyen Ngoc Anh
Short film sequences by Shan Ng & O Zhang
Costumes by Jenny Ng Matthews
Set by Wai Yin Kwok
Lighting by Douglas Kuhrt
Written by Alice Lee & David Tse Ka-Shing
Directed by David Tse Ka-Shing, assisted by Uma Jackson

Download Piccadilly Revisited leaflet

For more information or to join our mailing list, please visit:
www.chinatownartsspace.com

A practitioner of Chinese medicine has pleaded guilty to selling a banned substance to a woman who went on to develop kidney failure and cancer.

Ying “Susan” Wu, 48, of Holland-on-Sea in Essex, has been on trial at the Old Bailey for selling pills containing aristolochic acid to a civil servant.

The judge said he accepted Ms Wu had not meant to harm, and that the case highlighted the need for regulation.

Ms Wu has now been given a conditional discharge.

Read the full story…

From UKBA (full news release here):

Foreign students from outside Europe wanting to come to the UK to study will be required to meet stricter entry criteria, the Home Secretary announced today.

The new regulations will ensure that students studying below degree level have a limited ability to work in the UK, and that their dependants cannot work here at all.

It will be even harder for bogus students, whose only aim is to work in the UK, to come into the country.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson also confirmed that the government will implement plans to introduce a points test by 2011 for those who wish to earn British citizenship.

The new measures for students include:

* a good standard of English (equivalent of holding just below a GCSE in a foreign language) will be needed to come to the UK and study to improve English language competency further;
* a good standard of English (again equivalent of holding just below a GCSE in a foreign language) will need to be demonstrated in order to study any other course below degree level;
* restricting the lowest-level courses (A levels and equivalent) to only the most trusted institutions;
* halving the amount of time a student studying below first degree level or on a foundation degree course will be able to work, to just 10 hours during term time;
* a ban on bringing in dependants for anyone studying a course for less than six months; and
* a ban on dependants of anyone studying a course lower than foundation or undergraduate degree level from working - they will face removal from the UK if found doing so.

In addition, the new measures will include:

* a ban on foreign students studying below degree level if the course includes a work placement - unless that course is being provided by a university, college or training provider which has the status of ‘highly trusted sponsor’;
* a requirement for students to demonstrate their English language ability by passing an approved secure test - this will apply to all students studying below (foundation) degree level, including those coming to study English language; and
* the introduction of tougher criteria for defining which course providers count as ‘highly trusted sponsors’ of foreign students. We expect that all publicly funded universities and colleges will count as highly trusted, and we will ensure that there is a rapid but rigorous system for ensuring that private training colleges can also gain that status as soon as possible.

Yellow Earth (UK’s leading East Asian theatre company) and ALRA (The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts) are working in partnership to offer Yellow Academy 2010, an exciting new scheme to introduce British East Asians aged 16-30 to professional acting and performing. The participants don’t need previous acting training or experiences. FREE actor training activities are held in Belfast, Birmingham, London, and Manchester from February - August 2010.

A man who admitted trying to “sell” his vulnerable sister into a sham marriage as part of a Chinese immigration scam has been jailed.

Michael Wright, 22, from Wiltshire, was sentenced to four years after admitting immigration and perjury offences.

His sister, 24, who has learning difficulties, was put into social services care after the fake wedding at Reading Register Office was raided.

Three Chinese people were also jailed at Reading Crown Court.

The Guardian reports:

The number of student visas could be cut by tens of thousands under new rules making it harder for people to enter the UK, the home secretary, Alan Johnson, announced today.

Those seeking to study in the country will have to speak passable English, while students enrolling on short courses are banned from bringing dependants.

The new rules, which do not require legislation, come into effect immediately. The changes follow criticism of the government’s point-based system, that was introduced last year.

Prospective students will have to speak English to a level just below GCSE standard, treating English as a foreign language, rather than the beginner level as at present. In a move designed to protect jobs for British youngsters, students taking “below degree-level” courses will only be permitted to work for 10 hours a week, instead of the current 20.

Those on courses lasting less than six months will not be allowed to bring dependants, while the dependants of students on below degree-level courses will not be allowed to work. Student visas for below degree-level courses with a work placement will also only be granted for institutions that are on a new register, the highly trusted sponsors list.

FREE EVENT All welcome

The capital’s Chinese New Year celebrations are set to transform central London on Sunday 21 February 2010. Visitors to Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and London Chinatown will be able to welcome in the Year of the Tiger in spectacular style – with Chinese arts and entertainment from international and home-grown artists, and food, firecrackers and fireworks.

In Trafalgar Square, two groups from China (Sichuan Art Troupe and Central Ethnic Song and Dance Ensemble) will perform world-class dance, music and acrobatics after an official opening ceremony. There will also be firecrackers, Chinese dragons, lions and Chinese acrobatics.

Meanwhile, in a specially decorated Chinatown there will be cultural stalls, food and lion dance displays. Shaftesbury Avenue will become “Hong Kong in London Chinatown” with a stage featuring performances by local Chinese artists.

A colourful fireworks display in Leicester Square will close the celebrations.

The London Chinatown Chinese Association organises the capital’s Chinese New Year celebrations with support from the Mayor of London, Westminster City Council, Metropolitan Police, Chinese Embassy, Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Cathay Pacific, Tsingtao Beer (official beer sponsor), Bank of China, Bank of East Asia, ICBC Bank, Tiger Beer, Lebara Mobile, Shaftesbury plc, and others.

Mr Leslie Ng, President of the London Chinatown Chinese Association, said: “Hundreds of thousands of people enjoy London’s Chinese New Year celebrations, which have become a real highlight in the capital‟s calendar of events. It‟s an opportunity to celebrate and experience Chinese culture, and to see what Chinatown offers – not just during Chinese New Year, but all year round.”

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “I am delighted to give my backing to London’s Chinese New Year celebrations. Not only is it the largest outside Asia, it is undoubtedly one of the brightest, most colourful events to be seen in the capital. In 2010 it marks the start of the Year of the Tiger and we should take inspiration from some of the attributes of that fine creature. Looking forward to the end of the downturn, let’s respond to future challenges with energy, assertiveness and courage.”

People planning to attend London’s Chinese New Year celebrations are encouraged to plan their journey and use public transport. For more information and advice about planning your journey, visit www.tfl.gov.uk or call the London Travel Information Centre on 020 7222 1234.

Public information about Chinese New Year is available at www.chinatownchinese.co.uk – or www.londonchinatown.org (from 12 February 2010).

A British students, Mary-Jess Leaverland, won a singing competition in a f X Factor-style TV contest in China. The Guardian reports:

A couple of years ago Mary-Jess Leaverland was pleased to get second place in a local youth talent competition at Stroud Subscription Rooms in Gloucestershire.

Now the 19-year-old student is ­celebrating victory in a Chinese version of X Factor watched by millions.

Leaverland, from Gloucester, entered the competition during a year abroad to study for her joint honours degree in ­Chinese and music.

If you’re interested in watching Mary-Jess Leaverland in competition, you can watch some of the videos from the TV programme here.