Study tours in China as a tool for improving quality education

In the last decade, China has continued to pursue an active policy of reforming the education system and improving the quality of human capital, and thus creating an environment conducive to the socio-economic development of the state. The education sector is developing in all directions and is no longer limited with only compulsory nine-year education. The authorities stress the need for quality education and are taking steps to improve the educational process. "High quality" education must be comprehensive, as it is a key way of ensuring the long-term economic growth of the whole country. In such circumstances, the development of the study tour segment as a tool to broaden students' horizons and develop their practical skills, has become increasingly popular and has therefore received the support of the authorities. Study tours are organized by schools according to the characteristics of the region, the age of the students and the content needs of the curricula for specific subjects. The purpose of such out-of-school trips is to enrich the knowledge of primary and secondary school students, to acquaint them with nature and culture, and to gain experience of communicating in society and making independent decisions. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the segment as a whole has managed to weather the crisis and enter a new phase of development. Shortly before the launch of the 'Double Reduction Policy' aimed at reducing homework and extracurricular activities and improving the quality of education and its accessibility to all segments of the population, study tours became an integral part of the educational programmes of primary and secondary schools in the country, but this area is still in the process of formation and standardization. It is now increasingly noted that study tours now inherit and develop the traditional Chinese educational philosophy of 'read a thousand books and travel a thousand miles', and are becoming an important new content and a new tool for quality education in the country.