Western Australia--Zhejiang Vocational Education Consortium inaugural meeting successfully held at ZJIET

Publisher:gjjyjl_enUpdate:2022-11-28Views:17

On November 11, the inauguration of Western Australia--Zhejiang Vocational Education Consortium was successfully held. The event was directed by Zhejiang  Provincial Department of Education, Zhejiang Foreign Affairs Office and the Western Australian Department of Training and Workforce Development. Seven vocational colleges from the two provinces have signed up to be the first members of the Consortium. ZJIET is elected to be the first executive institute.

Shu Peidong, Chief Superintendent of Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education, Dai Aiping, Senior Inspector of Zhejiang FAO, and Karen He, Director of the Department of Training and Workforce Development of Western Australia attended the meeting and gave speeches. Heads of education departments of the two provinces, the first members of the Consortium and some media representatives were also seen at the gathering. The event was jointly presided over by Lan Jingjing, Director of International Division of Zhejiang Education Department and Brad Jolly, Executive Director of Western Australian Department of Training and Workforce Development Service Department.

In his speech, Inspector Shu fully affirmed the achievements in the exchanges and cooperation between the two provinces in higher vocational education. He hoped that the Consortium will focus more on key fields such as school-enterprise cooperation, talent training model reform, technology and skill innovation, and digital construction to create various cooperation projects for mutual benefits and seek solutions to some common problems in the development of vocational education. He hoped to see the Consortium as a vocational education cooperative platform for sustainable and high-quality development.

In her speech, Inspector Dai noted that this year marks the 35th anniversary of the friendship between Zhejiang Province and Western Australia. The establishment of the Western Australia--Zhejiang Vocational Education Consortium is a new progress in the education cooperation between China and Australia. It is another new milestone in the friendly and pragmatic cooperation between the two provinces. She said that Zhejiang FAO would continue to support the in-depth exchanges and cooperation between the two provinces in various fields, deepen the exchanges between sister cities, and push up their collaboration in education to a new level.

Director He congratulated the Consortium on its launch. She said that Western Australia and Zhejiang Province has worked closely in vocational education. The establishment of the Consortium will provide important support to boost the development of vocational education and training technical and skilled talents. She anticipated further cooperation with Zhejiang vocational colleges in the future.

Lao Ciming, ZJIET CPC Secretary and the current chairman of the Consortium, introduced the Implementation Plan for the Consortium Development and Promotion. He said that the Consortium will be built into a cooperation platform of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness for its member institutions in teacher training, talent cultivation, joint education, scientific and academic research, industry-education integration and so on. Smooth communication channels shall be built up to strengthen information sharing and, promote the international integration of industry and the education, language and cultural exchanges. The breadth and depth of vocational education cooperation between the provinces will be upgraded.

Next, the Consortium will focus on both the general goals and essential tasks in deepening exchanges and cooperation to enhance the high-quality development of vocational education in the two places and build together a community of vocational education development in friendship provinces.

Jiang Lijun, member of the ZJIET CPC Committee and the school’s vice president, signed an agreement with Southern Metropolitan TAFE WA on behalf of ZJIET. The two sides pledged to continue to carry out exchanges and cooperation in the fields of teacher and student exchange, talent cultivation, scientific and academic research.

To share the Chinese and Australian customs, the teachers and students of ZJIET staged an ancient Song Dynasty cultural performance. Through tea ceremony, traditional Chinese musical instruments and calligraphy shows, they allowed everyone to enjoy the charm of the traditional Chinese culture and have a touch with its strong historical and cultural heritage.

During the keynote speech session, experts from the both sides discussed how to improve the level of vocational colleges and promote the high-quality development of international vocational education in the post-COVID-19 era.

During the conference, the honorary guests from the two provinces witnessed a series of exciting moments, including the inauguration of the Consortium and the release of the Consortium LOGO.

The establishment of the Zhejiang-Western Australia Vocational Education Consortium is of great significance for enhancing the reform and development of vocational education in the two provinces, creating a dialogue and information platform, and deepening and solidifying the vocational education cooperation. Under the guidance of the education authorities of the two sides, ZJIET shall fulfill the duties as the chair of the Consortium by expanding its membership, enhancing its vitality, deepening its meaning, and promoting its development, so that the organization can contribute more to the high-quality development of vocational education in the two provinces.