ASEAN and Guangdong Anticipate Enhanced Cooperation in TVET

From 22 to 26 October 2024, TVET Exchange Trip to Guangdong for AMS Diplomats, jointly initiated by the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), was successfully held. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ACC led the diplomats in charge of education affairs from the Embassies of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam on visits to Guangzhou and Shenzhen. They paid visits to key TVET colleges, industrial colleges, technology enterprises and related institutions, gaining a comprehensive understanding of industry-education integration in Guangdong’s vocational education sector. Through this trip, the ASEAN diplomats were able to acknowledge the school-enterprise cooperation model and explore the application of digital technologies in vocational education. They also envisioned a new chapter for future cooperation between ASEAN and Guangdong in vocational education.

During the trip, the delegation visited several well-known institutions, including Guangdong Industry Polytechnic University, Guangdong Polytechnic of Water Resources and Electric Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Information Technology, Shenzhen Polytechnic University, and Southern University of Science and Technology. They explored schools specializing in distinctive industries as well as centers for smart manufacturing and industrial software. The delegation observed teaching sessions in training rooms, engaged in discussions with school leaders, and met overseas students from ASEAN countries sharing their learning experiences.

The delegation also toured training bases of “Build Your Dreams (BYD)”, “Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC Group)” and other companies partnering with vocational schools and research institutes. These field visits offered insights into successful models of production-education integration and showcased advanced technologies employed by these enterprises and their collaboration with AMS.

Furthermore, the delegation visited the UNESCO International Centre for Higher Education Innovation (UNESCO-ICHEI) to discuss the current landscape, prospects and potential cooperation projects related to the digitization of higher education in Southeast Asia.

The leadership from relevant vocational education institutions in Guangdong engaged in face-to-face discussions with ASEAN diplomats. They gained an in-depth understanding of the development and characteristics of vocational education across ASEAN countries, as well as successful experience and collaborative plans for international cooperation with China.

The ASEAN diplomats underlined the trip provided them with a comprehensive view of China's latest initiatives in vocational education, including such concepts of "integration of industry and education", "integration of science and education", and "integration within vocational education". They spoke highly of the significant progress made in Guangdong's vocational education sector and its collaboration with ASEAN countries. They also looked forward to fostering more effective cooperation in vocational education between the Chinese provinces with Guangdong included and ASEAN countries.

The trip was widely covered by various media outlets including Guangdong Radio and Television station, GDToday, Southern Daily, Yangcheng Evening News, Southern Metropolis Daily and Guangzhou Daily.