On June 28th, a working conference of the Vocational Education International Coordinated Development Community—a seminar on Vocational Education Going Global, with the theme of “Vocational Education Going Global, Sustainable and Steady Progress, Industry-Education Integration, Quality Improvement and Empowerment”, was held at Weihai Vocational College. The conference was guided by the Modern Vocational Education Research Institute and the Vocational and Technical Education Branch of Chinese Association of Higher Education, organized by the Vocational Education International Coordinated Development Community, and co-hosted by Weihai Vocational College and Beijing Waiyan Online Digital Technology Co., Ltd. The event included special speeches, keynote reports, and experience sharing, with more than 100 experts and scholars from over 60 institutions nationwide, as well as company representatives, in attendance. At the conference, the “Côte d’Ivoire National Vocational Standards International Cooperation Project” was announced, project details were discussed, and a signing ceremony was conducted. The “Zambia Ban Mo College (CCECC)” was awarded a plaque on the spot, marking the start of a school-enterprise cooperation between Weihai Vocational College and China Civil Engineering Construction (Zambia) Corporation, paving the way for the establishment of a new chapter at the “Zambia Ban Mo College”.
Present at the event were Director of General Office of Technical Education, Vocational Training and Apprenticeship Department of Côte d’Ivoire, Sangare Moustapha Karam, First Counselor of Embassy of Côte d’Ivoire in China, Bogui Blaise Marcel Aristide, Inspector General of Ministry of Vocational Education of Côte d’Ivoire, Sainy Kouakou Kouame Victor, President of Copperbelt University of Zambia, Imasiku Anayawa Nyambe, Deputy Director of Vocational Education Development Center of Ministry of Education, Huang Hui, Inspector General of Shandong Provincial Education Department, Wang Zhigang, Vice Mayor of Weihai Municipal Government, Zhao Baogang, Executive Chairman of Alliance of Chinese Business in Africa for Social Responsibilities, Diao Chunhe, Secretary of the Board of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, Gao Song, Director of Modern Vocational Education Research Institute, Wang Jianji, Chairman of Vocational and Technical Education Branch of Chinese Association of Higher Education, Zhou Jiansong, CEO of Beijing Waiyan Online Digital Technology Co., Ltd., Shang Qikun, President of Weihai Vocational College, Xu Donghui, Party Committee Member and Deputy Director of Weihai Municipal Education Bureau, Wang Cunbao, and others. The conference was successively chaired by the Secretary of the Party Committee of Weihai Vocational College, Li Yaohua, and Executive Vice President of Modern Vocational Education Research Institute, Cui Huanan.
Deputy Director Huang Hui was specially invited to deliver a keynote speech on “Chinese Vocational Education Development and International Exchange and Cooperation.” She elaborated on four main models of international exchange and cooperation in vocational education, including the platform of national ministries and commissions, the support of local governments, the promotion of industry organizations, and the bridging role of non-governmental groups. Through case studies, she explained the important role of vocational education internationalization in serving national strategies and industrial development. She pointed out that looking to the future, international exchange and cooperation in vocational education should focus on key development areas, serve the economic development and skills cooperation of countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, optimize cooperative education levels, types and structures, strengthen connotative development, and make Chinese contributions to promoting local employment and social livelihood.
Zhao Baogang congratulated the convening of the conference on behalf of Weihai Municipal Government in his speech. He stated that in recent years, Weihai has regarded “exploiting cooperation with Africa” as an important part of its external relations. Weihai has successively invited ten ambassadors and ministers of African countries to visit, initiating several cooperation projects with Africa, and opening a new chapter in Weihai’s exchanges with African countries. He fully affirmed the positive efforts of Weihai Vocational College in promoting the internationalization of vocational education in recent years, and expressed the hope that the Vocational Education International Coordinated Development Community could better boost international exchanges and cooperation in vocational education, and serve the economic development and well-being of countries along the Belt and Road.
Wang Zhigang pointed out in his speech that under the guidance of the national policy of upholding and expanding education opening-up, Shandong Provincial Education Department has actively organized the promotion of Shandong vocational colleges’ collaboration with overseas Chinese-funded enterprises to go global, and initiated the implementation of the overseas “Bam Mo College” project. He put forward three hopes for the work of vocational education going global: first, to further raise awareness, actively integrate into and serve the new development pattern; second, to further highlight characteristics, thoroughly grasp the connotations of “vocational education going global”; and third, to further strengthen services, build internationally popular public products based on skills training.
Sangare Moustapha Karam said in his speech, that Côte d’Ivoire has always placed technical education and vocational training at the core of its socio-economic development, especially the cultivation and improvement of professional skills among young people, which is crucial for supporting economic growth and promoting sustainable social development. Cooperation with China is of great significance. China has rich vocational education resources and advanced technologies. Côte d’Ivoire will introduce the advanced professional standards of Chinese institutions to enhance the cultivation of students’ skills and lay a solid foundation for students to enter the workplace.
Bogui Blaise Marcel Aristide reviewed the friendly relationship between China and Côte d’Ivoire over the past 40 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, emphasizing that talent development in the field of vocational education is an important part of the cooperation between the two countries. He pointed out that the collaboration between the two countries in projects such as the Luban Workshop and international scholarships has provided valuable learning and development opportunities for young talents in Côte d’Ivoire. He looked forward to further deepening cooperation in vocational training and apprenticeship programs between the two countries, and hoped to utilize the platform of Vocational Education International Coordinated Development Community to promote future cooperation to new heights.
Wang Jianji expressed a warm welcome to the guests from afar in his speech. He emphasized that effectively integrating “bringing in” and “going global” is an important part of China’s strategy for opening up to the outside world. The international development of vocational education can make a positive contribution to regional economic prosperity and social progress. He stated that the Modern Vocational Education Research Institute will fully leverage the expertise of its think tank, drawing on its extensive experience in vocational education research and the establishment of vocational standards systems. Working together with all parties, they will contribute the wisdom and strength of China’s vocational education to the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Zhou Jiansong expressed in his speech that under the Belt and Road Initiative, the Vocational Education International Coordinated Development Community initiated and led by Weihai Vocational College has provided innovative impetus for the high-quality development of international cooperation in vocational education by promoting resource sharing among member units. The Vocational and Technical Education Branch of Chinese Association of Higher Education will actively support the development of the community and work together with all parties to promote more countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative to actively share successful experiences on international cooperation in vocational education, build high-quality resources, and contribute Chinese solutions and strength to the global development of vocational education.
At the conference, the signing and launching ceremony of the “Côte d’Ivoire National Vocational Education International Cooperation Project” was held. This project is authorized by the Technical Education, Vocational Training and Apprenticeship Department of Côte d’Ivoire, with deep involvement from Chinese enterprises in Côte d’Ivoire, jointly initiated by the Modern Vocational Education Research Institute and Beijing Waiyan Online Digital Technology Co., Ltd. The Vocational Education International Coordinated Development Community is responsible for organizing and implementing the project. Inspector General of Technical Education, Vocational Training and Apprenticeship Department of Côte d’Ivoire, Sainy Kouakou Kouame Victor, and Deputy Secretary-General of Vocational Education International Coordinated Development Community, He Na, respectively introduced the current status of vocational education in Côte d’Ivoire and the project cooperation plan.
During the conference, a signing ceremony was also held to deepen the comprehensive cooperation between the school and enterprises, and to support the construction of the overseas “Ban Mo College”. Weihai Vocational College reached a comprehensive cooperation agreement with China Civil Engineering Construction (Zambia) Corporation. The college and enterprise will jointly organize technical skills training, academic education, collaborative research, and the construction of overseas college base, enriching the scope of cooperation and promoting cultural exchanges between China and Zambia.
After the signing ceremony, Wang Zhigang presented a plaque to Zambia “Ban Mo College” (CCECC) established by our college, and our President Xu Donghui accepted the plaque. Next, Weihai Vocational College will take “Ban Mo College” as a platform to drive “bringing in” through “going global”, further boosting educational and cultural exchanges between Shandong and countries involved in the “Belt and Road” initiative.
While hosting, Li Yaohua stated that Weihai will take this conference as an opportunity to further strengthen in-depth cooperation with enterprises going global, adjust and update vocational education by following the demands of industrial development while integrating vocational education and industry, and contribute to the new journey of promoting internationalization of vocational education in China, thereby enhancing its global influence and discourse power.
At the conference, Executive Chairman of Alliance of Chinese Business in Africa for Social Responsibilities, Diao Chunhe, Secretary of the Board of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, Gao Song, President of Copperbelt University of Zambia, Imasiku Anayawa Nyambe, and CEO of Beijing Waiyan Online Digital Technology Co., Ltd., Shang Qikun, gave special speeches.
Professional scholars from different universities and industry enterprises across the country shared their experiences in internationalizing vocational education development at the conference.
During the conference, the second Board Meeting of Vocational Education International Coordinated Development Community was held. The Secretary-General of the Community Secretariat presented an on-site report on the work done since the establishment of the community, and the Board made arrangements for the key tasks to be carried out in the next phase of the community.
According to the provisions of the community’s charter, the Board Meeting, after discussion and voting, agreed to add 12 new member institutions such as Shenzhen Polytechnic University to the community, and elected Nantong Vocational University as the rotating Executive Chairman institution for the next year. Community Chairman Li Yaohua presented plaques to the newly added Deputy Executive Chairman institutions, Board member institutions, and the rotating Executive Chairman institution for the next year.