On the afternoon of September 9, a 12-member delegation, organized by the Singapore Ministry of Education and the National Institute of Education (NIE), visited Shenzhen Polytechnic University (SZPU) as part of a training program. The aim of the program was to provide systematic training for Singaporean middle-level school administrators, enhancing their core competencies in teaching management and leadership. The delegation was warmly received at Mingde Building 109 by Wang Bingfeng, Director of the Office of International Exchange and Cooperation, Professor Yang Wenming, Director of the Asia-Africa Center for UNESCO Studies, and relevant staff members.

At the beginning of the event, Wang Bingfeng delivered a warm welcome speech, expressing his sincere gratitude to the NIE delegation for their visit. He provided a brief introduction to SZPU’s educational philosophy and highlighted the university’s achievements in vocational education over recent years. Following this, Chen Linchuan, Assistant Grade Head at NIE, expressed his anticipation and goals for the visit, hoping to learn from Shenzhen’s successes in vocational education and apply these insights to further education reform in Singapore.

The event continued with a lecture by Professor Yang Wenming, who had prepared a thought-provoking presentation titled “Digital Transformation: Emerging Scenarios in Vocational Education Governance.” In his lecture, Professor Yang emphasized that digital transformation is not merely a technical upgrade, but a comprehensive reform of education systems, teaching methods, and organizational culture. By embracing these changes, vocational education can better meet the demands of the digital economy, producing high-quality talents capable of facing the challenges of future workplaces. Professor Yang’s insightful lecture captivated the delegation, leaving them inspired and impressed by the depth of the discussion.

After the lecture, the delegation toured the training labs at SZPU’s School of Telecommunications, School of Automotive Engineering, and School of Artificial Intelligence. The group was highly impressed with the university’s deep integration of industry and education, its applied research achievements, and the rigorous management practices in place.

On the second day, the delegation visited the Shenzhen College of Science and Innovation, where they continued to explore the latest developments in technology and education in Shenzhen. These visits not only allowed the delegation to experience the unique appeal of Shenzhen’s vocational education firsthand, but also provided valuable insights for Singapore’s future educational innovation. 

(Written by Xia Jingyi, Office of International Exchange and Cooperation)