With the theme of “Innovation Empowers the Future, Skills Enlighten New Lives,” the 2024 World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference opened on Nov. 21 in North China’s Tianjin municipality. Chen Min’er, Secretary of the Tianjin Municipal CPC Committee, Wang Dongming, Chair of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, and Huai Jinpeng, Minister of Education, attended the event. Huai also presided over the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech.
At the opening ceremony, Simona-Mirela Miculescu, President of the 42nd General Conference of UNESCO, gave a video address, while Muferihat Kamil Ahmed, Minister of Labor and Skills Development of Ethiopia, and Grahame Morton, New Zealand Ambassador to China, delivered speeches. Representatives from the governments of the Republic of Korea, South Africa, Kazakhstan, Serbia, and Australia, as well as leaders from organizations such as CRRC Corporation and Tianjin University of Technology and Education, also shared their perspectives. A World Vocational and Technical Education and Training League was established during the event.
Prior to the opening ceremony, all participants visited a thematic exhibition, learning about achievements in talent development and skills innovation, vocational education’s role in promoting intangible cultural heritage and innovation, and its contribution to industrial upgrades and regional development. They then exchanged views with exhibitors on facilitating mutual learning and enhancing education-industry integration worldwide in the area of vocational and technical education.
The Conference was jointly organized by the Ministry of Education, the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, and the Tianjin Municipal Government. During the Conference, leaders from education and related sectors across 32 countries held a ministerial roundtable. They discussed and adopted the Tianjin Consensus on the Development of World Vocational and Technical Education: A Declaration of 32 Ministers, outlining a shared vision for global vocational and technical education. Six parallel sessions were convened on the following topics: “Industry-Education Integration for High-Quality Development in Vocational Education,” “Vocational Education’s Role in Global Sustainable Development,” “Global Strategies and Practices for High-Skilled Talent Development,” “Innovative Practices in Vocational Teacher Development,” “Integrating Vocational Education and Lifelong Learning,” and “Establishing Quality Assurance Systems for Vocational Education.”
The Conference aimed to provide the following six international public goods in vocational education: hosting the world conference; launching the World Vocational and Technical Education and Training League; presenting the World Vocational Education Awards; organizing the World Vocational College Skills Competition; holding a thematic exhibition; and launching an international journal dedicated to vocational education. The event attracted over 600 international participants from more than 100 countries and regions.
Numerous dignitaries and others attended the opening ceremony, including officials from the Tianjin Government, relevant national ministries and commissions; heads of provincial and municipal educational and related departments; foreign government representatives and diplomats in China; and leaders of international organizations, industry associations, prominent enterprises, and overseas higher education institutions.
