The Chinese Communist Party’s Ideological Control in UK-China Joint Educational Institutes
Executive Summary
This report investigates the CCP’s ideological control in 45 current Joint Educational Institutes (JEIs) that were jointly established by UK and PRC universities during 2004-2024. It provides the background and an analysis of operations of ideological control by the JEI-affiliated CCP Committees occurring in these institutions and their potential impact on students, staff and other members of the UK-China JEIs.
Key findings: ideological control within UK-China JEIs
Ideological indoctrination within degree teaching. Mandatory, degree-accredited ideological and political education is embedded in programmes leading to UK degrees. These courses promote CCP authoritarian views, suppress critical discussion and are often concealed from clear disclosure.
Ideological indoctrination disguised as extracurricular activities. PRC students in all UK-China JEIs are required to take part in CCP-led activities, including allegiance pledges, mobilisation to become military scientists, and party membership recruitment. Non-compliance can result in punitive action by JEI management.
Surveillance on PRC campuses. JEI CCP Committees on PRC campuses organise ideological surveillance of all students and staff, with senior management holding meetings to arrange such activities. Ground surveillance operations are enforced through “Student Guidance Officers” and “student informants,” who monitor the political compliance of all students, as well as lecturers in some cases.
Surveillance on UK campuses and “overseas CCP branches”. Surveillance extends to the UK campuses of co-host universities to maintain ideological oversight of PRC students undertaking part of their degree studies in the UK. “Overseas CCP branches” operate on UK campuses to support ongoing monitoring and ideological education of JEI PRC students.
Harassing and discriminating against academics. PRC and foreign academics are cautioned to avoid any criticism of the CCP. Non-compliance can lead to employment discrimination, harassment, or other penalties, as exemplified by two cases of foreign academics being unfairly dismissed or demoted at the JEIs, and CCP officials allegedly influencing guest speaker invitations and hiring decisions on JEI campuses.
Censorship over course materials. All course materials are reviewed by JEI CCP Committees or their superior organisations to ensure political compliance. Using or creating unapproved teaching materials is considered a serious offence in the PRC and may carry criminal liability.
How does CCP ideological control evade UK oversight?
UK universities appear largely unaware of the presence and extent of CCP Committees’ ideological operations within their UK-China JEIs, as suggested by their website records and Freedom of Information inquiries.
References to CCP activities are often deliberately ‘lost in translation.’ While Chinese language materials are relatively candid, English language versions often conceal CCP activities and disguise them under themes of openness and global collaboration, reflecting a ‘foreign-oriented propaganda’ strategy aimed at cultivating favourable relations with international partners.
Potential violations of UK laws and regulations :
Registered students in UK-China JEIs hosted by English universities are entitled to the same regulatory protections as those taught in the UK, wherever they are based. Responsibilities of Welsh, Scottish, and Northern Irish universities may be similarly laid out by respective regulations and supervisions under respective funding councils.
Potential violations of the Equality Act 2010 and university equality policies. Failure to address CCP ideological operations in UK-China JEIs may breach the Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010 and universities’ own equality policies, exposing students to discrimination, harassment, and victimisation.
Potential violations of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023. Failure to take reasonably practicable steps to prevent CCP ideological control in UK-China JEIs could constitute a breach under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023. UK universities must resist CCP demands and support those whose rights to academic freedom and freedom of speech are undermined.
Potential breaches of the OfS and QAA TNE quality standards. CCP interference in UK-China JEIs raises doubts over universities’ ability to meet OfS and QAA requirements for academic rigour and student learning experience.
Key Recommendations
For UK regulatory authorities (the OfS and other devolved authorities):
The OfS should commission an independent review of the governance, quality standards, and academic freedom in the existing UK-China JEIs.
The OfS should establish a harmonised set of guidelines for UK higher education providers engaging in TNE activities in the PRC.
The OfS should require universities to explicitly reference their TNE institutions, such as UK-China JEIs, in their policy handbooks and codes of conduct.
The OfS should expand the new Freedom of Speech Complaint Scheme to make it available to all members involved in the UK’s TNE programmes, including students, academic and non-academic staff.
At a minimum, the following three bottom lines should be mandated for all UK universities that are currently or planning to engage in TNE activities in the PRC:
UK-China JEIs must uphold an academic environment that fosters free and critical thinking and debate, particularly in the teaching and learning of China-related studies.
UK-China JEIs must prohibit any form of ideological surveillance of students and staff hosted by the joint management team.
UK-China JEIs must ensure transparency and consistency across all public and private records relating to management and institutional activities, in both English and Chinese.
For UK universities hosting UK-China JEIs:
Enhance transparency: UK universities should regularly update information on their JEIs in the PRC to UK stakeholders, particularly concerning the functions of CCP Committees established within these institutions.
UK universities should routinely inform their TNE students, staff, members, and guest speakers of freedom of speech and welfare information, as well as the grievance mechanisms available under university policy and applicable UK laws.
Improve academic resources: UK universities should develop rigorous, credible, and balanced academic modules on Chinese language, history and politics to replace CCP-designed ideological and political modules in JEI curricula.
UK universities should strengthen quality assurance for all courses delivered in TNE institutions to ensure the integrity of learning and assessment materials.
Improve oversight in student services: UK universities should appoint managers or supervisors within JEI student services to ensure these services are not co-opted for ideological surveillance.
UK universities should expand their role in providing in-country support to TNE students while they are in the UK. This includes ensuring that all communications and activity tracking of TNE students in the UK are transparent to all stakeholders and comply with strict data privacy protocols.