BEIJING: China will advance vocational education through high-quality reform and the integration of industry and education, Education Minister Huai Jinpeng said during the 2024 World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference in Tianjin on Thursday.
Vocational education should be “inclusive, industry-oriented, innovative, intelligent and international,” Huai said during his speech at the conference.
“China invites the world to share their results of six major international public initiatives in vocational education, including platforms for cooperation, awards, and exhibitions, to inject new momentum into global vocational education collaboration,” he said.
Co-hosted by the ministry, China’s National Commission for UNESCO and the Tianjin government, the conference runs from Wednesday to Friday. More than 1,200 delegates are attending, including 600 hailing from more than 100 countries and regions.
Simona-Mirela Miculescu, president of UNESCO’s 42nd General Conference, delivered a video message at the opening ceremony, emphasizing vocational education’s role as a catalyst for addressing global challenges.
“Technical knowledge and professional proficiency are the linchpins of a brighter tomorrow … We need, more than ever, skillful technicians to support our societies in facing challenges, building resilience and thriving,” she said as she highlighted the event’s initiatives, including the launch of the World Technical and Vocational Education and Training League and the World TVET Prize.
Muferihat Kamil, Ethiopia’s minister of labor and skills, praised China’s Luban Workshop initiative, which has provided advanced vocational training for Ethiopian youth since 2021.
–The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
