World Vocational and Technical Education Development Alliance Established

On November 21, 2024, the World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference, themed "Innovating to Empower the Future, Shaping Lives with Skills," opened in Tianjin. The conference included the opening ceremony, keynote reports, a ministerial-level roundtable meeting, and parallel sessions. Over 1,200 representatives from more than 100 countries and regions attended, with over 600 international guests, including government officials, diplomats, representatives from international organizations, and educational institutions. Mr. Xu Jianling, Vice Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Shenzhen Polytechnic University (SZPU), attended the conference.

Mr. Xu Jianling Speaks as the Sole Chinese Representative from a Member Institution

Before the conference opened, the first general meeting of theWorld Vocational and Technical Education Development Alliance (hereafter the "Alliance") was held on the afternoon of November 20. Mr. Xu Jianling, as the sole Chinese representative from a member institution, delivered a speech. He stated that the Alliance brings together global political, academic, industrial, and business stakeholders involved in vocational education, creating a more inclusive global vocational education community. The establishment of this platform will facilitate greater connectivity in global vocational education, promote the sharing and exchange of educational resources, and help cultivate high-quality skilled youth, injecting new vitality into global economic and social development. Shenzhen Polytechnic University will actively participate in the Alliance's activities, support its growth, and contribute to the prosperity and progress of global vocational education.

On the morning of November 21, the opening ceremony of the conference included the formal establishment of the Alliance. The Alliance, the first global vocational education cooperation organization led by China, includes 89 founding members from 43 countries and regions across five continents. These members include higher education institutions, vocational colleges, industry enterprises, and educational organizations. Among them, 64 institutions are universities, 12 are enterprise representatives, and 13 are from industry associations and educational organizations. Over two-thirds of the members are foreign vocational education institutions, with roughly equal representation from developed countries in Europe and North America, as well as from developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Shenzhen Polytechnic University, along with three other Chinese institutions, serves as a council member of the Alliance.

On the afternoon of November 21, a parallel session on "Promoting Global Sustainable Development through Vocational Education" took place. Over 200 representatives from the education departments, universities, and research institutions of nearly 30 countries and regions attended, discussing vocational education cooperation and sharing governance models. Xu Jianling represented SZPU at this parallel session, delivering a speech titled "The Path to High-Quality International Development of Vocational Education." In his presentation, he shared the "One Core, Six Dimensions" model for SZPU’s internationalization of high-quality development. This model centers on digital transformation and explores new "going global" paths and models unique to Shenzhen Polytechnic, including Shenzhen Digital Workshops, Shenzhen International Journals, Shenzhen International Platforms, Shenzhen International Conferences, the Shenzhen Agreement, and international cooperation in education. His presentation attracted significant attention from conference participants.

Exhibitions Showcasing SZPU’s Achievements

During the conference, a vocational education exhibition was also held. SZPU set up two exhibition halls: one showcasing engineering and technology education achievements, and the other highlighting international exchange and cooperation. The Engineering and Technology Education Achievements exhibition focused on SZPU’s multi-field innovative accomplishments, such as its excellence in cultivating high-quality technical and skilled talent, its strong capabilities in cutting-edge technology research, and its practical contributions to industry transformation and upgrading, particularly in the field of digital teaching. The International Exchange and Cooperation exhibition presented SZPU’s high-quality vocational education practices and achievements, through various initiatives such as Shenzhen Digital Workshops, international vocational education journals, UNESCO’s digital chair in vocational and technical education, and the Belt and Road Vocational Education International Symposium.

Both exhibitions demonstrated SZPU’s role as a leader in vocational education innovation, offering a vivid "Chinese example" for global vocational education. SZPU’s exhibitions were among the most visited at the conference, with numerous domestic and international guests taking the opportunity to learn about the university’s educational achievements.

(International Exchange and Cooperation Office, Li Simin)