UNEVOC Centres in China Strengthen TVET Collaboration through First Virtual Meeting

On June 25, the five UNEVOC Centres in China held their first virtual consultation to assess progress and strengthen cooperation in TVET.

The strategic collaboration among UNEVOC Centres in China is essential for advancing dialogue on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and skills agendas in the country. On June 25, the five UNEVOC Centres in China held their first virtual consultation to assess progress and strengthen cooperation in TVET.

Hosted by UNESCO Beijing with support from the UNESCO International Centre for TVET (UNEVOC) in Bonn, Germany, the meeting aimed to establish a solid platform for dialogue and cooperation. Participating centres included the Center for Vocational Education Development, Ministry of Education (CVED), Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute (SXPI), Shenzhen Polytechnic University (SZPU), and Zhejiang Technical Institute of Economics (ZJTIE).

The meeting commenced with welcome remarks from Mr. Robert Parua, Education Programme Specialist at UNESCO Beijing, and Mr. Calice Olivier Pieume from UNEVOC in Bonn. They highlighted the key achievements in TVET partnerships and potential future collaborations. Mr. Ruairi Gough from UNEVOC in Bonn presented the UNEVOC global strategy, emphasizing the mission to support and facilitate cooperation among UNEVOC centres globally.

Each UNEVOC Centre in China provided updates on their current projects and future plans for 2024, sharing ideas for potential joint collaborations. The discussions underscored the importance of working together to address key issues in the TVET sector.

Notable contributions included:

Mr. Zheng Jian and Dr. Xu Jing from CVED expressed expectations to collaborate at the International Conference on TVET Development and on the Digital Transformation of TVET in China project.

Prof. Yang Wengmin from SZPU shared plans for initiatives on Digital Transformation, Greening TVET, and proposed joint research and seminars.

Mr. Qin Jingjun from SXPI described capacity-building workshops and projects on Global Citizenship Education.

Dr. Margarita Pavlova from EdUHK detailed projects on Greening TVET and proposed the National Leadership Program for TVET Leaders.

Mr. Kang Chunxiao from ZJTIE highlighted workshops on new energy vehicle technology and suggested joint projects in TVET curriculum development.

The major outcome was a commitment to regularize UNEVOC consultations annually, with an aim to share good practices and host joint meetings. The consultation marked a milestone in strengthening the network of UNEVOC Centres in China, fostering innovative solutions, and enhancing the quality and relevance of TVET to meet the evolving demands of the global economy and sustainable development goals.

UNEVOC, under the guidance of its International Centre in Bonn, continues to strengthen global TVET systems, promote policy dialogue, and ensure access to quality skills training and development for all through international collaboration and sharing best practices.