The 2024 World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference opened in Tianjin on Nov. 21. Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng delivered a keynote speech titled “Innovation Empowers the Future; Skills Enlighten New Lives: Advancing Global Vocational Education Together.”
Huai emphasized President Xi Jinping’s strong focus on vocational education, calling for enhanced international collaboration to drive quality development in the field. The minister highlighted China’s efforts to advance vocational education through robust systems, quality standards, and industry partnerships, which are all seen as critical to modernizing the sector. Huai reiterated China’s readiness to collaborate globally, contributing to the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and fostering shared progress.
Addressing the challenges of a rapidly changing world shaped by a revolution in technology and industrial transformation, Huai underscored the vital role of vocational education in developing skilled talent, promoting employment, and driving innovation. “Vocational education is a pathway to economic vitality, a source of innovation, and a cornerstone for improving livelihoods,” he said, urging countries to step up efforts, build trust, and collaborate in the field of vocational education for shared resilience amid global uncertainties.
Huai invited other nations and stakeholders to jointly implement six initiatives to strengthen vocational education. These initiatives include establishing a global vocational education alliance, launching the first world vocational education award, holding competitions aimed at upgrading vocational skills, creating a dedicated exhibition platform, and launching the World Vocational and Technical Education journal. He said these initiatives would go a long way towards promoting cooperation, enhancing governance, and supporting economic development worldwide.
The conference, which welcomed policymakers, educators, and industry leaders from around the globe, represents a significant step in fostering international collaboration in vocational education to create a sustainable and prosperous future for all.
