This September, Shanghai attracted global attention through vocational skills as cross-border dialogues on vocational education extended both inside and outside the WorldSkills Competition venues. China-Kazakhstan vocational colleges established a normalized cooperation platform through a forum and consortium; Sino-German institutions finalized pairing agreements at the WorldSkills Conference parallel sessions; and delegations from universities and institutions across France, Hungary, Germany, and other nations visited the campus of Shanghai Zhongqiao Vocational and Technical University. Concurrently, existing initiatives—such as the Sino-German Youth Exchange Program and international student cultivation from Malaysia—progressed steadily.
Building Platforms to Advance International Cooperation Deeply
On September 24, the Shanghai Skills Development Thematic Parallel Session of the 2026 WorldSkills Conference was held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). As a key highlight of the conference, pairing agreements signed between Chinese and foreign institutions focused on pragmatic cooperation in skill-based education, curriculum co-development, and faculty-student exchanges. President Han Fang, representing Shanghai Zhongqiao Vocational and Technical University, signed a twinning agreement with representatives from Mediadesign Hochschule (MD.H), further deepening partnership in international skilled talent cultivation across digital media design, computer applications, and related disciplines.
Since establishing partnerships in 2023, both institutions have conducted extensive collaborations around talent cultivation, faculty visits, academic exchanges, and resource sharing. As of the first half of 2026, over 30 students have pursued further studies in Germany through joint programs, with another 26 students scheduled to depart for Germany in October. Simultaneously, ongoing short-term exchange projects integrate classroom learning, corporate visits, and cross-cultural immersion, forging an international educational pathway that seamlessly bridges short-term exchanges with long-term degree cultivation.
Immersive Experiences: Zhongqiao University Through the Eyes of Multinational Delegations
- Professional Alignment and Pragmatic Discussions: On September 22, a three-member delegation from France's GIP FIPAN visited the university to hold a Sino-French vocational education exchange at the School of Culinary and Hospitality Management. Both parties engaged in in-depth discussions on joint curriculum development, faculty exchanges, student mobility, practical internships, and the fusion of Chinese and French culinary cultures, exchanging views on deepening discipline-specific cooperation.
- Resonating Skills with WorldSkills Partners: On September 24, a delegation representing vocational education from France's Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region visited the school. The delegation toured the baking practical training laboratory, observed live instruction, and learned about curriculum design and talent training. Against the shared backdrop of Lyon and Shanghai hosting consecutive WorldSkills Competitions, discussions on culinary and baking skill development resonated profoundly.
- Deep Practical Training and Educational Immersion: On September 25, a 37-member Hungarian vocational education delegation visited the university. Comprising leaders and key teachers from vocational training centers and technical schools, education experts from chambers of commerce and industry, and enterprise representatives, the delegation visited the School of Nursing and Health, School of Urban Renewal, School of Intelligent Manufacturing, and the East China Low-Altitude Industry-Education Integration Practice Center. Members participated in classroom teaching alongside students, observed industrial robot programming and operation live, and gained an in-depth understanding of the university's academic offerings, practical training, and industry-education integration. Through this immersive experience, the delegation gained firsthand insight into Zhongqiao University's educational practices, expanding horizons for future cooperation.
- Standard Benchmarking and Experience Sharing: On September 27, a three-member delegation from the Giessen-Friedberg Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) in Germany visited the university. Discussions focused on the German vocational education certification system and skilled talent cultivation practices, exchanging insights on institutional management, industry-education integration, and vocational training.
Two-Way Engagement: From Mutual Learning to Daily Educational Practice
On September 1, the 2026 Sino-German Youth Exchange Program, co-organized with Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW), officially launched. Combining professional practice with cultural immersion, the week-long program featured drone flight trials, traditional Chinese pastry making, culinary arts practice, corporate visits, and urban cultural tours. This allowed German youth to experience China's vocational education within authentic academic and industrial settings, fostering mutual understanding between youth from both nations.
