China-Connected International Education
China-Connected International Education
Cheryl Yu
Managing Director
With over 18 years of experience in international higher education across multiple UK universities (University of the Arts London, University for the Creative Arts, Birmingham City University, University of Southampton, and University of Lancaster), Dr Cheryl Yu has a strong track record of developing and delivering impactful internationalisation strategies. Her expertise spans international student recruitment and retention, curriculum internationalisation, and the design and delivery of large-scale Transnational Education partnerships. She has played a leading role in the establishment and oversight of two Joint Institutes in China (and working as Assistant Dean delivering JEI on the ground in China), each enrolling approximately 1,200 students, as well as JEPs and proposals for IBCs, working closely with institutional leaders, regulators, and cross-border stakeholders. She has a vast network of institutions, agents, investors and government agencies in China and wider Asia.
Currently, Dr Yu serves as Director of Programmes and Co-Founder of TNE Institute, a specialist provider of the Level 7 Certificate in Transnational Education and other CPD programmes for academic and professional services staff. Through the Institute, she also provides strategic consultancy to universities worldwide, supporting sustainable, quality-focused, and future-ready global TNE development.
As a researcher, Dr Yu has published widely on the internationalisation of higher education, with work spanning international student experience, curriculum internationalisation, cultural intelligence, student success, transnational education and global higher education policy. Her publications include journal articles and book chapters on Chinese international student mobility, inclusive teaching in international classrooms, scaffolding strategies for international student success, and EU–China higher education collaboration in a changing geopolitical context. Her recent co-edited book, Critical Reflections on the Internationalisation of Higher Education in the Global South, contributes to contemporary debates on equity, power relations, decolonisation and global knowledge exchange in international higher education.
David Mansfield
Educational Consultant, Advisor, Trainer and Writer
With over 17+ years of experience as a Senior Advisor to various Groups and Schools
Former Executive Headmaster Y.K.Pao School, Shanghai
Former Headmaster, Dulwich College, Beijing
David Mansfield is a respected Headmaster, educator and consultant whose experience spans a wide range of schools and educational institutions in the UK and internationally. His currently Chief Academic Officer and Senior Advisor to the Board of ISAIEG.
He has successfully led four different schools, most recently the leading Chinese international school in Shanghai, YKPao School. Before that he was headmaster of Dulwich College Beijing. Pao School was voted ‘Best International School in China’ in 2017, 2019 and 2020 (Hurun). He now writes, coaches, consults and advises widely.
Before moving to China, David led two ‘outstanding’ secondary schools in England. He has been a Syndic and Director of Cambridge Assessment, which owns Cambridge Assessment International Examinations, and been a Director of an Education NGO working in Sub-Saharan Africa. He has participated in national steering groups (SSAT, YST) and professional associations in England, and undertaken research work on school improvement and leadership for learning at Cambridge University, building his understanding of education in its widest sense. He is Freeman of the City of London.
He was the founding Dean of Buckingham International School of Education – a teacher training provider linked to the University of Buckingham. He has been Senior Advisor for Pao School and Director of Leadership at The Pao Centre for Teaching and Learning based in Hong Kong. He has served as lead consultant for British various school groups opening school in China, Japan and London, including St Peter’s York in Hainan.
David completed his undergraduate degree in history at Cambridge University, his postgraduate studies in education at Oxford University and continued his studies with an MBA in International Education Leadership. He also has a diploma in Theology and is a keen sportsman and amateur ornithologist. ational education at different universities in the UK, Dr Cheryl Yu has a proven track record of developing and implementing effective internationalisation strategies for attracting and retaining international students and developing and delivering Transnational Education with stakeholders from different countries and regions, including two joint institutes in China with 1,200 students each.
Dr Lu Hong, OBE
Expert Advisor
Deputy Director at LSE Confucius Institute for Business London and Chairman of CEDP Chinese Centre UK
Dr. Lu has studied and worked in the UK for 29 years, specialising in the fields of Chinese teaching and research, Chinese language education and promotion of Chinese business culture, and Chinese cultural studies.
In 2007Dr Lu became the first manager of Confucius Institute for Business London at London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). In this role, she has produced a series of books for London business societies. Dr. Lu was one of the editors and authors of Introduction to Chinese Business Culture (Sinolingua, London). Dr. Lu is also the head of executive training, the designer of the training courses and the principal instructor at LSE Confucius Institute for Business. She has vast experience running training sessions on topics including Chinese business culture and language, multicultural training and global business etiquette, Chinese teacher training, Sino-British business forums, amongst many other projects.
Relevant papers and studies published at international conferences and journals include: (A Changing Nation: The Effects of Globalisation on China). As one of the main organizers and referees, Dr. Lu organised and participated in the finals of the Chinese Language World University Competition 2008-2011 and 2018. Dr. Lu also served as a press conference interpreter for the Athens Olympic Organizing Committee 2004.
Dr. Lu has been widely recognized for her work in the field of China-UK cultural exchange, most notably in the form of an OBE (Order of the British Empire). This is one of the UK’s most distinguished titles and was awarded to Dr. Lu by Her Majesty the Queen, in 2015 and Freedom of London in 2022
Stephane Waller, SFHEA
International Partnership Manager
Stéphane Waller is a senior academic leader and business lecturer with over 15 years’ experience in higher education, specialising in Transnational Education and UK–China partnerships. He holds an MBA in Marketing from Birmingham City University and brings strong strategic and operational expertise across the international education landscape.
He previously served as Academic and Administrative Manager for the Birmingham Institute of Fashion and Creative Arts (BIFCA) in Wuhan, where he led academic operations and quality assurance for a large-scale TNE project supporting approximately 600 students from inception. Prior to this, he worked at the University of Southampton’s Winchester School of Art Dalian campus, managing the full student lifecycle for 700 students and promoting UK progression routes.
At the University for the Creative Arts (UCA), Stéphane served as Senior Lecturer & Programme Director in Business Management and Marketing, contributing to curriculum development, international student engagement, and cross-border initiatives. A Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, he combines pedagogical leadership with business acumen.
Fluent in Mandarin, French, Spanish, and English, Stéphane bridges cultural and institutional contexts to build sustainable international partnerships and drive global student success.
Jon Santangelo
External Relations Strategist
Based in China and Asia for nearly 15 years, Jon Santangelo is an experienced international education professional and educator with a career spanning both institutional practice and industry consultancy. He holds a BS in Communication from the United States and a Master’s in Education Management & Leadership (with Distinction) from the United Kingdom.
Jon currently works at a bilingual boarding school in China, where he coordinates and teaches Critical Thinking, Global Citizenship Education (GCE), Project-Based Learning (PBL), IELTS, and Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language (ESL). His expertise bridges academic instruction with strategic educational development.
Over the course of his career, Jon has helped forge hundreds of partnerships and marketing collaborations between international and education providers across China and Southeast Asia. Since 2014, he has served as an advising consultant to BOSSA, China’s study abroad service industry association. In 2023, he also began consulting for award-winning KEATH.ai, contributing to product development and global public relations strategy.
Jon is an active member of several professional learning communities, including Leading Your International School (LYIS) and AIEOU: AI in Education at Oxon, a research hub based at the University of Oxford’s Department of Education.
In addition to his academic roles, Jon is a communications expert with experience in public relations, international education, and artificial intelligence. He has been featured and quoted in major global and industry media, including The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Financial Times, Forbes, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and The PIE News, offering insights on student mobility, current events, and trends.
Dr. Stella Huili Si
China TNE Policy Advisor
Dr Stella Huili Si is a policy analyst and researcher specialising in transnational higher education (TNHE) governance, partnership design, quality assessment, and international higher education policy. Her work focuses on the ways in which cross-border higher education partnerships are designed, regulated, implemented, and evaluated across different national and institutional contexts.
She currently works as a Policy Analyst at the University of Manchester, where she brings together policy research, institutional analysis, and sector engagement to support evidence-informed decision-making in international higher education. Her expertise bridges macro-level policy design with institutional implementation, enabling her to examine not only how TNHE policies are developed, but also how they are interpreted, operationalised, and experienced by universities, partners, staff, and students.
Alongside her academic and policy work, Dr Si is the founder of StellaLink, through which she translates research insights into practical models for international talent development, institutional partnership building, and cross-sector collaboration. This practice-based experience strengthens her ability to connect theory with implementation, supporting universities and organisations to design more effective, sustainable, and context-sensitive international education initiatives.
Through her combined roles as researcher, policy analyst, and practitioner, Dr Si has contributed to both academic and industry debates on TNHE governance, quality assurance, partnership development, and the future of international higher education. Her work demonstrates a strong commitment to bridging research, policy, and practice, and to developing international education models that generate meaningful institutional, sectoral, and societal impact.
Professor Chris Harris
TNE China expert
Professor Chris Harris, BA, PhD, SFHEA, FRSA, is an experienced academic leader with significant senior-level experience in transnational education, particularly in the UK-China higher education context. He is the former Vice-President for Academic Affairs at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in Suzhou, China, and served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the University of Liverpool from 2018 to 2021.
Through his leadership role at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, one of the most prominent examples of UK-China transnational higher education, Professor Harris gained extensive experience in the development, governance and delivery of Sino-foreign cooperative education. His work has involved navigating the academic, regulatory and institutional complexities of operating a major international university in China, including curriculum delivery, quality assurance, academic standards, student experience, institutional partnership management and cross-cultural academic leadership.
His experience is particularly valuable in understanding how TNE operates in practice in China, where successful partnerships require not only strong academic design, but also careful alignment with Chinese regulatory expectations, local institutional priorities, student needs and long-term partnership sustainability. Professor Harris brings insight into both the strategic and operational dimensions of UK-China TNE, from institutional governance and academic quality to staff engagement, cultural understanding and the practical realities of delivering international education on the ground.
Professor Harris is also an Inner Board Member of the Irish Research Council. He is now semi-retired, while continuing to hold part-time roles in Modern Languages at Lancaster University and in local government and politics at Lancaster City Council.
Wang Wei
China Strategic Partner
Mr. Wei Wang is a distinguished leader in international education with over four decades of experience across government, industry, and global partnerships. He began his career at China’s Ministry of Education, where he served for 15 years in senior roles, including Deputy Director, advancing international cooperation with organizations such as UNESCO, UNDP, UNFPA, and APEC. In 2000, he moved to the private sector, founded Wiseway, which grew into one of China’s leading international student recruitment organizations with a nationwide presence. In 2008, Wiseway became part of East & West International Education Group (EWIE), a global education platform spanning student recruitment, pathway programmes, mobility, employability, and university partnerships. The Group was listed in 2016, with Mr. Wang as Founder and Chairman. Widely recognized in the sector, Mr. Wang also holds guest professorships at Sun Yat-sen University and Jiangsu Normal University.
Heather McClean
Expert Advisor
Heather McClean is a Pre-sessional Senior Coordinator at University College London and a former Education and Recognition Adviser at Queen Mary University of London. She has over 25 years’ experience in English language teaching, academic communication, and student support, with particular expertise in working with international students entering UK higher education.
Heather has developed significant specialist knowledge in teaching and supporting Chinese students, including their transition into UK academic culture, expectations around independent learning, academic writing, classroom participation, critical thinking, assessment, and feedback. Her work is informed by a deep understanding of the linguistic, cultural, and educational adjustments that many Chinese students experience when studying in the UK or on UK transnational education programmes.
Alongside her teaching practice, Heather has extensive experience in staff training, professional development, and academic mentoring. She works with academic and professional services staff to strengthen their understanding of international student learning needs, intercultural communication, inclusive teaching practice, academic language development, and assessment literacy. Her training supports colleagues to create more accessible, responsive, and culturally aware learning environments for students from diverse educational backgrounds.
Heather also has expert knowledge of English language teaching, assessment, and intercultural teaching and learning. She serves as an external examiner for a number of UK higher education institutions, contributing to quality assurance and the enhancement of academic standards in English language and academic skills provision.
Professor Mengxi Yang
Expert Advisor
Mengxi “Robin” Yang is an Associate Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the School of Economics and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is also affiliated with the Ministry of Education Social Science Laboratory of Digital Economic Forecasts and Policy Simulation, where his work connects economics, management, digital transformation, innovation and policy analysis.
Robin’s academic expertise sits at the intersection of digital economy, innovation management, economic forecasting and policy simulation. His work contributes to understanding how emerging technologies, data-driven systems and innovation ecosystems shape economic development, organisational decision-making and public policy. Through his research and supervision, he supports doctoral and postgraduate students working on topics related to innovation, management, digital economic development and policy-oriented research.
In addition to his role at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Robin has been appointed as an Associate at Clare Hall, University of Cambridge, from May 2023. This affiliation reflects his international academic engagement and supports further collaboration between Chinese and UK research communities.
Robin is also a Postgraduate Supervisor in the Innovation Management Area at the Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research. In this role, he contributes to international postgraduate education and research supervision within a cross-border academic environment, supporting students and collaborative research linked to innovation, management and sustainable development.
Across his academic appointments, Robin brings together research, doctoral supervision, international collaboration and policy-facing expertise. His background is particularly relevant to discussions on innovation-led development, digital economy, international research collaboration and the role of universities in supporting economic and societal transformation.
Charlie Connor
Expert Advisor
As a highly experienced professional with 10 years of senior experience in international higher education, edtech and charity sectors, Charlie brings a wealth of expertise in international sales, business development and strategic partnerships. With a very established network in the space, Charlie has worked with 100’s of universities worldwide to establish strategic international student recruitment campaigns, both digital and in-person events. Furthermore, Charlie's experience in the public sector has equipped him with a deep understanding of social impact and community engagement, enabling him to contribute meaningfully to initiatives that drive positive change.
Dave Amor
International education data analyst, TNE Institute Fellow
Dave brings extensive international higher education experience, with expertise in market intelligence, student recruitment, data strategy and transnational education. He recently completed his Level 7 Certificate in TNE.
Dave has deep roots in China and the wider Chinese-speaking world. He began his career by studying Chinese in Taiwan and working as an education agent — an experience that gave him an on-the-ground understanding of student decision-making and the education intermediary landscape that few UK practitioners can match. He then joined INTO as Regional Manager in China, where he developed substantial expertise in the Chinese higher education market and UK institutional partnerships.
Returning to the UK, Dave held senior international recruitment roles across several universities before becoming Director of Market Intelligence, where he led data-driven international strategy at an institutional level.
Since 2023, he has focused on advising higher education organisations on international strategy, covering student mobility trends, recruitment channel effectiveness, market diversification, pricing and TNE opportunities.
He recently contributed to the British Council’s 2025 ASEAN 5 undergraduate recruitment channels paper.
Richard Mann
UK-China Expert, TNE Institute Fellow
Living in Beijing, Richard brings his knowledge and skills from the UK into China, having worked in China for over a decade. His work is very much Transnational Educationally project-based, drawing upon his managerial and academic expertise, as well as his cultural awareness of both China and the UK. Richard`s work is very much the backbone of bridging Administration with Academic. Richard has a strong level of engagement with UK-China transnational education and has clear commitments to an applied understanding of TNE operational processes; lifecycles, due diligence, academic integrity, curriculum design, pedagogy, institutional approval mechanisms and strategic dimensions of TNE partnerships.
Not only is Richard committed to the application of TNE, but he is also very much student-focused on comprehensive academic and pastoral support, for which he has recently received the UK agent
and a counsellor training certificate from the British Council.
