From April 8 to 9, Professor Johannes Kern, Vice President of the Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (DHBW), visited Shanghai Zhongqiao Vocational and Technical University. The two institutions conducted a series of activities, including leadership meetings, faculty training sessions, student engagement events, and thematic lectures. Discussions focused on innovation in the dual education model, faculty development, student exchange, and the expansion of cooperative education programs, further consolidating mutual understanding and advancing China–Germany cooperation in vocational education.
On the morning of April 8, President Han Fang, along with Yan Hui, Assistant to the President and Director of School of International Education, and other representatives, held talks with Professor Kern. President Han Fang extended a warm welcome to the delegation and noted that DHBW has developed strong expertise and distinctive strengths in dual education, aligning closely with Zhongqiao’s commitment to industry–education integration and collaborative talent cultivation with enterprises. Building on the existing partnership, both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on future cooperation and proposed three key directions: first, to further deepen faculty training cooperation by exploring a blended “online + offline” CAS (Certificate of Advanced Studies) training model; second, to expand student exchange programs and explore the addition of skills-based certification courses for students studying in Germany; third, to take the Schools of Intelligent Manufacturing and Economics and Management as entry points to explore new pathways for Sino-foreign cooperative education. The meeting clarified priorities for the next phase and laid a solid foundation for broader and deeper collaboration.
In the afternoon, Professor Kern attended a CAS training exchange session. Yan Hui, Assistant to the President and Director of School of International Education, Guan Chunying, Director of the Human Resources Office, along with key faculty members, participated in the discussion. The two sides engaged in detailed exchanges on curriculum design within the dual system, the organization and implementation of practical training, and teaching evaluation mechanisms. The session further strengthened mutual learning in vocational education concepts and practices and provided new insights for enhancing the development of a high-quality teaching workforce.
Since the launch of the partnership, the two institutions have facilitated a total of 169 student exchanges, including 90 Zhongqiao students studying in Germany and 79 German students visiting Zhongqiao. These programs cover a variety of formats, such as semester exchanges and short-term study visits. Professor Kern spoke highly of the achievements and encouraged students to actively participate in international exchange programs to broaden their global perspectives and enhance their professional and comprehensive competencies.
Looking ahead, both sides will continue to leverage their respective strengths to deepen and expand cooperation in vocational education, advancing collaboration toward broader scope, greater depth, and higher quality. Together, they aim to cultivate high-level technical and skilled talents equipped with international perspectives, innovative capabilities, and strong practical competencies.
