On completing the dicussions in Gannan Teachers University, Sergei Vasin, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, and Tatiana Shipilkina, head of the department ‘Music and Methods of Teaching Music’ flew to Lianyungang (Jiangsu Province). The aim is to visit the Lianyungang Normal College, an institution of higher professional education for teachers, and conduct talks on organizing joint educational programmes in music education.

The official meeting was conducted on the 26th of May. The meeting was attended, apart from the Russian guests, by the President of the Normal College, Vice-Rector for Academic Activities, Director of the Department for International Education, Dean of the Faculty of Music and Pre-School Education, Head of the Music Department, teachers and professionals working in the field of music education of the college.

The President told the guests about the Jiangsu Province and Lianyungang, about the history and current state of Lianyungang Normal College. He stressed the fact, that Jiangsu is a rapidly developing province in a variety of fields. Its territory is rich in useful minerals, and the technologies of their development is constantly growing. Lianyungang is also a port on the shores of the Yellow Sea and in the future it will become the starting point for trans-continental ‘Asia-Europe’ trail. The city region is varied in relief, has mild climate, determined by sea proximity. The population of the city amounts to 4 million people, and the higher education is provided by 6 universities.

Lianyungang Normal College has a long history, becoming a merge of several teacher training institutions, one of them - Provincial Normal School, whose history goes back to the end of the 19th century. Currently there are more than 10 000 students at the institution. Faculty of Music and Pre-School Education is one of the largest in the College with 3,000 students.

After mutual greetings and introductions of the educational institutions, the working group discussed the possibilities of joint educational programme ‘Musical Education’.

Having analyzed the current educational programme of the College, it was discovered that training music specialists in Lianyungang lasts only three years and that is why the college can not award bachelor’s degree to its graduates. This is the major difference from training specialists in Gannan Teachers’ University (Ganzhou). The results of the discussions in the latter university has been reported in the news.

The parties analyzed the structure of prospective joint educational programme with due consideration of differences in training in Lianyungang College. Students will study on the basis of 3+2 basis with 3 years of training in China. Teachers of Penza State University will participate in that three-year training in China. They will have to teach students the Russian language, so as to smooth the adaptation process during their further studies in Penza State University, and building the professional basis in the sphere of music. Two following years Lianyungang College students will study in our university. On successful completion of the programme the students will be awarded bachelor degree from Penza State University and will be able to continue their studies at a master’s degree level.

The reciprocal visit of Lianyungang Normal College is due to take place in July 2016.