Venture Education 问创

As November rolls around and we approach the end of the year, we naturally look towards how to prepare for the coming year. Venture is heading down to Shanghai on the 22nd of November to share trends and insights with school leaders who want to get informed on what is happening in 2025. You will be briefed on trends and insights powered by our unparalleled data, research, and network in China. See you in The University of Manchester China Centre on the 22nd!

Fancy an embassy pint in Peking! Can you guess out of the 175 embassies, at which 4 you can get one? The answer is…….. at the embassies of: Australia, Germany, The USA and of course Great Britain and Northern Ireland! Now, before being bombarded by any long-term Beijingers I must state that the German offering is really just a counter, the Australian more of a café and the American bar is only for marines and their guests. But…. The British Embassy is home to The Bell, a proper pub with all the trimmings, from darts to scampi! Founded in 1971 this iconic but rather well-hidden watering hole is an institution and possibly serves the best pint in Beijing. With Halloween here and the weekend just around the corner, why not go for a pint with your friends?

Venture is hiring! We are hiring a Chinese Research Analyst Intern who will help Venture propel its research forward. As part of a highly competent and diverse research team, you will be contributing to projects that make an impact in the Chinese education sector. If you are a native level Mandarin speaker with strong English speaking and writing skills, with an ability to quickly research new topics, digest and summarise large volumes of news and analytical articles, and with an attention to detail and accuracy, this might be the job for you. You will be part of a highly international, knowledgeable, cooperative, and caring team that will be invested in your growth, and you will be making visible, meaningful contributions to our projects. If you are interested, please refer to the job description here: https://lnkd.in/gmJ_jzmY And email your CV and cover letter to [email protected] Looking forward to seeing you potentially at our Dongdaqiao office! #hiring#jobs#education

Are you a school leader looking to prepare your school for what's coming next? Our Education Sector Outlook 2025 event is taking place in Shanghai in The University of Manchester China Centre, Friday 5pm, 22nd of November. You will be briefed on trends and insights powered by our unparalleled data, research, and network in China. Keep yourself informed and ready for what is coming in 2025!

Watch Out, Social Media: Don’t underestimate the wrath of Singapore’s O-level students. (Even if it’s wrongly directed.) After taking the GCE O-level English Language listening exam this October, Singaporean students were upset: they thought the voice reading one of the passages spoke too fast and didn’t enunciate well, which cost them precious marks. The passage was about a woman named Alicia Hopwood who went hiking in the Appalachian Trail in the US. Which, incidentally, happens to share a lot of similarities with a video posted by a YouTuber who goes by the username Alicia in the Mountains. Cue the slew of threatening comments by secondary school students on her video, like ‘Don’t let me find you’. But recently, there have been more and more apologies from well-meaning students and parents, explaining the situation and encouraging Alicia (and some telling her to sue Cambridge for the exams). As one commenter tried to explain, ‘The O [level] is the most important examination students take in their secondary school (Grade 10) in Singapore as it determines their ability [to] enter College/Polytechnic depending on the results’. A bizarre situation? Innocent hiker YouTuber gets her channel hijacked by angry O-level students? Well, major stakes exams have far-ranging implications, both in Singapore and beyond. In Korea, no planes can land or take off during the English listening comprehension section for the college entrance exams (CSAT/수능), the biggest test of the students’ lives. Tensions run high, when one’s future is at stake…who knows what could happen next? #Olevels #exam #pressure #academic #competition in #asia

As our co-founder Julian presents the latest trends in K12 education in Chengdu, where rabbit delicacy reigns supreme, we naturally had to ask ourselves about rabbit consumption trends as well. Who produces the most rabbit meat for consumption? Well, as is the answer to most “which country produces the most…?” type questions, it’s China. But second place is certainly pretty interesting: North Korea. And what about consumption? The highest levels of rabbit meat per capita consumption was registered in the Czech Republic (3.72 kg annually per person), followed by Spain (1.09 kg per person), Slovakia (0.82 kg per person) and Italy (0.75 kg per person). With two countries leading the way in frozen rabbit consumption: Brazil and Mexico. Truly rabbit is a global meat. And where has rabbit really taken hold in China? As we mentioned above, the city where Venture just talked to school leaders and Chinese education investors: Chengdu. Sichuan cuisine accounts for 70% of the nation’s rabbit meat consumption, with locals devouring nearly 300 million rabbits each year—about nine rabbits per second? The phrase “无兔不成席” (no meal is complete without rabbit) sums up this passion. And as one Venture staff member from the region commented on writing this post: “Rabbit head isn’t just another food trend; it’s a way of life here in Sichuan!” For many, even some Chinese from other regions, eating rabbit heads might seem odd. However, the dish dates back to the Qing Dynasty, when food shortages led locals to turn to wild rabbits for sustenance, making the most of every part. Over time, the flavours evolved, and today, Chengdu’s rabbit heads are heavily spiced. As one local put it, "The more you chew, the more addictive it becomes!" Sharing a rabbit head with friends is also a celebration of togetherness. In a playful twist, “啃兔脑壳” (kēn tù nǎo kè) literally means “to kiss” in the local dialect. No wonder a recent meme (see images) questioning “How can you eat the cute little bunny?” sparked a wave of negative reactions among Sichuan locals! So, if you find yourself in Chengdu, don’t shy away from rabbit. Our recommendations: 双流老妈兔头 (Shuangliu Laoma Rabbi Heads） 自贡冷吃兔（Zigong Cold Eaten Rabbit） #rabbitdelicacy #foodculture

We are heading off to Shanghai to host our Sector Outlook 2025 event, which will brief you on trends and insights powered by our unparalleled data, research, and network in China. Keep yourself informed and prepared for what is coming in 2025!

‘APT APT…APT APT…’, if you’re a fan of ROSÉ or Bruno Mars, chances are you know this song quite well. Its catchy, repetitive phrase has caught the attention of listeners across the globe, instigating a wave of TikTok videos (with a demure and mindful vibe!). ROSÉ shared that the inspiration for the song came from her favourite Korean drinking game, ‘Apartment’. The game itself is a simple yet entertaining rhythm game that’s popular, especially amongst the youngsters in Korea. Players gather in a circle, chanting ‘아파트’ (Apartment in Korean) while clapping to a steady beat, imitating the sound of knocking on apartment doors. Each player takes turns calling out a random floor number, like ‘3rd floor’ while staying in rhythm. The next player must then respond with a different floor number or perform a specific action, depending on the agreed-upon rules. If someone breaks the rhythm or repeats a floor number, they have to drink! It’s a fast-paced game that requires quick thinking and good timing! What’s a popular drinking game or an interesting game to play over the dining table in your country? Share below!

This week, we are heading off to Chengdu and Chongqing to host our Sector Outlook 2025 event, which will brief you on trends and insights powered by our unparalleled data, research, and network in China. Keep yourself informed and prepared for what is coming in 2025! We are looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday and Thursday, and we are certainly looking forward to the warmer weather down South…

Do you remember when global media went crazy saying that Chongqing was the biggest city on earth? We do. It was 1997. When it got divorced from Sichuan. But let's be clear, it's a little bit more complicated than that. Because Chongqing, like Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin, became a municipality. With the same political status and rights as a province. And as a municipality, it is huge. Like, the same size as Austria huge. But this is if you judge a city by geographical boundaries not by population. If you go by population... honestly, who knows? Some say Tokyo, some say Shanghai, and others say Delhi. Heck, we've even seen some reports saying Guangzhou has 70 million+ (if you include Foshan, Dongguan etc.) Anyways, we'll be there next week. Come join us! #semantics #sizedoesntmatter