China-ASEAN Vocational Education Forum solemnly held
On the morning of September 18, 2012, China-ASEAN Vocational Education Forum was solemnly held in the Southern Great Wall International Hotel in Tongren. Leaders, experts, scholars from five ASEAN countries including Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, Brunei and Vietnam, and the delegation from over 40 higher vocational colleges all over the country gathered together to discuss international exchange and cooperation of vocational education.
The opening ceremony was hosted by Vice-mayor Li Shuxin of Tongren. Director Zhang Xiuqin of the Department of International Exchange and Cooperation, Chinese Ministry of Education, Ms. Fan Wei, section chief of the Higher Vocational Education Agency of the Department of Vocational and Adult Education, Mr. Shen Yubiao, education official of the China-ASEAN center, Deputy Director of the Department of Education of Guizhou Province, Ms. Cai Zhijun, and Mayor of the People's Government of Rongren, Mr. Xia Qinfeng were present at the ceremony.
Mayor Xia Qingfeng addressed the opening ceremony. On behalf of Tongren Municipal People's Government and its people, Mr. Xia expressed his warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to all the leaders, representatives, and guests from home and abroad. He said that the forum held in Tongren was a big event in the history of Tongren with its education. Tongren Party Committee and the Municipal Government have been attached great importance to vocational education, and actively promoted reform and development of vocational education. Vocational education in Tongren develops quickly. He pointed out that ASEAN countries and <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />China were all rich in educational resources, all possessing unique features towards the aspects of education structure, the cultivating mode, specialty construction and the dominant disciplines. This forum would definitely play a positive role in enhancing the communications and friendship among the educators of vocational colleges, promoting research and innovation of the theory of vocational education and pushing forward the reform and development of vocational education businesses, both in ASEAN and China.
Ms.Zhang said in her address that after “China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week” being held for four times, for the first time, a special vocational education forum was held. This was another bridge that would enhance the communication of vocational education between China and ASEAN members, particularly the vocational colleges of the southwest and the universities of ASEAN members, and push forward the exchange and development of China and ASEAN in both culture and economy. And this forum would surly further the internationalization of vocational education. Higher vocational education was an important constituent part of higher education, and it was an inexorable trend for it to step into internationalization. Enhancing the international exchange and cooperation of vocational education was an effective way to improve the internationalization of Chinese vocational education and promote China’s international prestige, influence and competitiveness, and it was also an inevitable course to boost the reform and development of China vocational education, cultivate large quantities of internationalized talents with international horizon, thoroughly understanding international rules and being capable of participating in international affairs and competitions.
Director of regional center on vocational and technical education and training of SEAMEO (Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organization), Mr. Alias Bin Hj Abu Bakar, said that the forum would surely have a far-reaching influence on reform and development of vocational education in southeast areas. He talked about the issues that both ASEAN countries and China encountered and hoped that this forum would take cognizant and provide a more serious discussion on the issues he had mentioned. At last, he assured that SEAMEO VOCTECH would always play its role as a partner in upgrading the VTET systems in the region and in China.
China-ASEAN Vocational Education Forum was one of the sections of China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week which was organized by Ministry of Education, P.R.China, Guizhou Provincial People’s Government, undertaken by the Department of Education of Guizhou Province and Guizhou Foreign Affairs Office, and co-organized by Tongren Polytechnic College. The forum lasted two days which consisted of opening ceremony, keynote speeches, group discussions, intercollegiate talks and signing preliminary agreements.
Edited by: Liao Xiaoqiong
Source: TRPT News (Chinese)
