CCP mouthpiece People’s Daily recently reported that Chinese vocational colleges are actively engaging in “internationalization” through a dual approach. The following are key points from that article.
On one hand, Chinese vocational colleges focus on “bringing in” (i.e. attracting and training) international students and conducting various global exchange activities. On the other hand, they pursue high-quality “going out” initiatives such as establishing overseas educational collaborations and creating international education brands including the Luban Workshop, the Chinese Language Workshop, and the Modern Craftsman Academy. “The ‘Chinese + Vocational Skills’ model not only enhances foreign learners’ employability and cross-cultural communication skills but also supports deeper international industrial cooperation and the integration of industry and education.” Training qualified faculty is seen as a key factor.
On one hand, the teachers should have effective Chinese language teaching skills and the ability to promote Chinese culture. Currently, Beijing has established 19 international Chinese language teacher training centers in China to enhance teachers’ professional competence and teaching abilities. These centers primarily train Chinese teachers and volunteers from vocational schools.
On the other hand, vocational skills training for overseas faculty is also a priority. In November 2020, the first national “Chinese + Vocational Skills” International Promotion Base was launched by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under China’s Ministry of Education and Nanjing Vocational University of Industry Technology. To date, the base has conducted over 20 overseas teacher training programs, training more than 4,000 local (foreign) educators in countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.
In addition to training programs, the base also released the bilingual textbook series – New Silk Road “Chinese + Vocational Skills” – in December 2023. Covering six disciplines, including mechatronics, automotive service engineering, and network engineering, the series consists of 19 volumes spanning beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. The textbooks were developed based on on-site research into the use of Chinese in 15 job categories in the ASEAN countries. Language teachers and technical experts collaborated through mutual training and joint discussions, presenting typical work tasks and scenarios in progressively structured and easily understandable Chinese, supplemented with English explanations.
Source: People’s Daily, March 21, 2025
http://edu.people.com.cn/n1/2025/0321/c1006-40443517.html