In 2024, AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group (AIM Group) was approached by Shanghai Urban Construction Vocational College with a view to gaining endorsement and ultimately certification from a UK based Awarding Organisation for their Food Inspection and Testing Technology programme. The idea behind this, was that their students would be able to gain UK certification at the appropriate level, whilst completing their Chinese Government approved qualification.
Using a group of specialists and an intermediary company to act as a channel for communication, a project plan was created. The main exercise was to assess the Level of the Food Inspection and Testing Technology programme delivered by Shanghai Urban Construction College (SUCC) against the Framework Standards for Higher Education agreed in the Lisbon Recognition Convention (originally signed and ratified in 1999 and now administered by UNESCO), using the current benchmarked framework standards in the UK (RQF).
Comparable programmes in the UK education system, were used in order to support its recognition in the UK and broader international qualifications domain. The SUCC curriculum was compared to the Qualification Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) Subject Benchmark Statement for undergraduate degrees covering Food and Human Nutrition published in April 2024 and reviewed by a series of subject specialists and professionals in the food industry.
In addition, the terms of reference included identification of any subject or topic gaps in the SUCC curriculum which may need to be addressed, together with further recommendations for internationalisation of the curriculum. The mapping process involved the detailed analysis of 5 modules where the full module description was provided. In the case of the other 15 modules, the assessment and benchmarking exercise was undertaken by reference to summary descriptions presented in the overall programme specification.
The intention was for the SUCC programme to be endorsed by an OFUAL regulated UK Awarding Body – namely AIM Qualification and Assessment Group (AIM). To this end, AIM provided two sets of criteria to inform the exercise and underpin the endorsement process.
The mapping exercise ultimately found that the qualification was equal to a Level 5 in the UK and as such any student completing the course would be awarded with a certificate.
On December 10, 2025, Shanghai Urban Construction Vocational College (SUCC) held a certification award ceremony at its Fengxian Campus, celebrating the establishment of the Shanghai Centre of AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group (UK) and the International Certification of its Food Inspection and Testing Technology major. The ceremony was hosted by Yu Limin, Director of the International Exchange Office.
Key Achievements and Value
AIM Group’s CEO, Kevern Kerswell formally presented two certificates to SUCC: one for the AIM Shanghai Center and another for the international AIM Level 5 certification of the Food Inspection and Testing Technology major. This Level 5 certification is recognized by the UK education system, aligned with UNESCO’s ISCED, the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), and the UK’s Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), confirming the program’s equivalence to international standards.
The certification, which took a year to complete, involved full upgrades to the curriculum, assessment standards, and international qualification alignment through close collaboration between SUCC’s School of Food and Tourism and AIM Group. It marks a major breakthrough in both AIM Group’s and the college’s internationalisation efforts and builds a bridge for exchanges with European educational institutions.
Follow-up Activities
After the ceremony, both parties held in-depth discussions on professional development planning, the operation model of the Shanghai certification centre, and university-enterprise collaborative education mechanisms, reaching multiple cooperation consensuses.
Moving forward, SUCC will leverage the AIM Shanghai Centre to radiate influence to relevant institutions and enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta, promote the internationalisation of vocational education, and support the high-quality development of China’s food industry.