June 16–18, 2025 — Professor Han Fang, President of Shanghai Zhongqiao Polytechnic University, was invited to attend an international symposium on the future of global technical and vocational education and training (TVET), held at The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK). On the opening day, President Han delivered a keynote address titled Digitally-Enabled Cultivation of Globally Competent Technical and Vocational Talent, sharing the university's innovative practices and contributing the Zhongqiao perspective to the global vocational education community.
Global Delegates Convene to Explore the Future of TVET
Organized by the UNESCO-UNEVOC Centre (Hong Kong), the symposium was convened under the theme Reimagining Technical and Vocational Education and Training: Advancing the Future of Education. Delegates from eight mainland Chinese vocational undergraduate institutions and universities—including Nanjing Vocational University of Industry Technology, Guangdong Vocational University of Business and Technology, Shanghai Zhongqiao Vocational and Technical University, Shandong Vocational University of Foreign Languages, Shandong Vocational University of Foreign Affairs, Shenzhen Polytechnic University, Guangdong Polytechnic University of Light Industry, and Guangdong University of Technology—joined peers from Hong Kong SAR, the Republic of Korea, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, and Singapore. Scholars, government representatives, and institutional leaders explored the opportunities and challenges facing vocational education in the technology-driven era, exchanging practical experiences and innovative case studies.
- Embracing the AI Era: The university has advanced TVET digital transformation across six dimensions: AI-enhanced program development, curriculum design, learning environments, immersive ecosystems, dual-qualified faculty teams, and professional student societies.
- Deep Industry-Academia Integration: Through its industrial institute co-established with Jaka Robotics, the university has created a virtuous cycle of enterprises empowering institutions—institutions serving enterprises—joint research and shared outcomes.
- Pioneering the Low-Altitude Economy: In partnership with the East China Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Base, the university has launched a low-altitude economy industrial institute focused on aircraft maintenance, intelligent driving, and airspace management, building an integrated campus-within-enterprise, enterprise-within-campus platform.
- Serving the Belt and Road Initiative: The university's international program with Morimatsu (China) introduces an innovative two-year professional coursework plus one-year factory internship model, training management trainees for the company's Malaysian facility and advancing the internationalization of Chinese vocational education standards.
The keynote offered practical insights and clear pathways for TVET digital transformation and international talent cultivation, providing a valuable reference for the global vocational education community.
Broad Consensus Reached with The Education University of Hong Kong
During the symposium, President Han paid a special visit to The Education University of Hong Kong, where she engaged in in-depth discussions with Professor John Lee Chi-Kin, President of EdUHK, and the UNESCO-UNEVOC Centre (Hong Kong) team. The parties reached broad consensus on several areas of cooperation, including: signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU); exploring master's and doctoral articulation programs; launching joint research and master's degree initiatives; and co-developing curricula and jointly cultivating talent in emerging fields such as the low-altitude economy. Both sides expressed their commitment to leveraging respective strengths in alignment with the national strategy for high-quality development of vocational education.
