ACC Held ASEAN-China Seminar on Cooperation and Exchange in TVET in Beijing

On 25 October 2014, the ASEAN-China Seminar on Cooperation and Exchange in Technology & Vocational Education and Training (TVET), organized by ASEAN-China Centre (ACC)， was held at the National Conference Center in Beijing. The Seminar was a useful forum which discussed the current development and reform trend on vocational education in China and ASEAN, the future of ASEAN-China vocational education cooperation, as well as the relevant work for the establishment of the ASEAN-China Consortium for Cooperation and Exchange in TVET. 

ACC Secretary-General Ma Mingqiang, Dr. Yang Jin, Director-General of Central Institute for Vocational and Technical Education (CIVTE), China, Ms. Zhou Yan, Director of Vocational and Training Department of China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE) and Dr. Hj. Ali, Deputy Director of SEAMEO VOCTECH delivered their remarks at the Seminar. Mr. Majundar, Director of UNIVOC participated in the event. Around 100 representatives from a number of colleges in China and ASEAN countries attended the Seminar.

Ms. Liu Yufeng, Director of International Cooperation and Comparative Studies, CIVTE, China and Mr. Wang Daoyu, Deputy Director of Education, Culture and Tourism Division of ACC, chaired the meeting. Dr. Yang Jin and Dr. Hj. Ali respectively elaborated on the policy and theoretical problems in the construction of China modern TVET and ASEAN economic integration and challenge of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA). Mr. Phouvieng Phoumilay, Deputy Director General of TVED, Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES) of Laos , Mr. Lim Teck Lee, Deputy Principal (Academic) of ITE of Singapore and Mr. Xue Maoyun, President of Jiangsu Institute of Commerce of China, Mr. Joachim Wagner, ADB-STVET Project Team Leaser of MOES of Laos Mr. Chen Chuanzhou, General Manager of Zhejiang Yalong Educational Equipment Joint-Stock Co., Ltd., introduced their respective roles and experiences in promoting ASEAN-China vocational education cooperation and exchange. Mr. Sun Aiwu, Institutional Chair of the Vocational Education Committee of CEAIE and President of Nanjing Institute of Industry Technology presented the working plan for the establishment of the ASEAN-China Consortium for Cooperation and Exchange in TVET, and invited colleges from ASEAN and China to participate in the current work.  

In the past two year, ACC has organized four groups of Chinese vocational colleges’ tour to ASEAN and received several ASEAN vocational education delegations to China. Those activities were warmly received by Chinese and ASEAN colleges, which provided solid foundation for ASEAN-China Consortium for Cooperation and Exchange in TVET. During the China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week (CAECW) in September 2014, ACC proposed the establishment of ASEAN-China Consortium for Cooperation and Exchange in TVET.

The Seminar was part of the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP) World Congress 2014. Ms. Lu Xi, Vice Minister of MOE of China, Ms. Denise Amyot, President of WFCP and Application Technology and Vocational Academy of Canada and Mr. Zhang Xinsheng, Chairman of CEAIE and World Conservation Union, attended the opening ceremony.

It was the first time for WFCP World Congress to be held in Asia since its establishment. The WFCP World Congress 2014 in Beijing, themed “Global Partnerships: Building a Better Future”, deliberated on reform trend on vocational education and its major issues. The “Beijing Declaration” which was signed at the end of the Congress appealed to the member countries to promote international exchange among vocational colleges.