On March 27, the Achievements Recognition and Cooperative Agreement Signing Exchange Event for the Philippine National Vocational Skills Standards Development Collaboration Project, jointly organized by the Philippine Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the China-Philippines Silk Road Institute Foundation, and hosted by Zhejiang Institute of Economics and Trade and the National Industry-Education Integration Consortium for the New Generation Computer Applications Industry, was successfully held on campus.
Lin Feng, Member of the University Party Committee and Vice President of Zhejiang Institute of Economics and Trade; El Cid Castillo, Executive Director of the TESDA Qualifications and Standards Office; Zhang Hongyang, Chairperson of the China-Philippines Silk Road Institute Foundation; and Duan Jian, Secretary-General of the Secretariat for the Philippine National Vocational Skills Standards Development Collaboration Project, attended the event and delivered speeches. Over 60 participants, including TESDA standards certification experts and representatives from Chinese institutions involved in developing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) standards, joined the event. Qiu Leiming, Member of the University Party Committee and Director of the Organization Department (Talent Office) and Publicity and United Front Work Department, presided over the meeting.
n his speech, Lin Feng extended a warm welcome to the Philippine and Chinese guests and highlighted the institute’s achievements in international education and China-Philippines vocational education cooperation. He emphasized that mutual cooperation and shared development align with the fundamental interests of both nations. Collaborative efforts to establish vocational skills standards across multiple fields will significantly advance vocational education and social progress in both countries. He expressed hope for deeper cooperation in practical, people-centered projects to empower the Belt and Road Initiative and enhance China-Philippines cultural exchanges.
El Cid Castillo praised China’s accomplishments in vocational education and thanked Chinese institutions for their substantial contributions to the Philippine skills standards development project. He noted that this collaboration strengthens bilateral exchanges in vocational education and supports the Philippines in enhancing global competitiveness, cultivating high-skilled talent, and driving industrial upgrading. He looks forward to further cooperation to promote high-quality development in vocational education.
Zhang Hongyang acknowledged the pivotal role of the China-Philippines Silk Road Institute Foundation as a bridge in this collaboration. She expressed gratitude to all participating institutions and experts for their dedication and emphasized the foundation’s commitment to advancing the project’s implementation and injecting new vitality into vocational education in both countries.
During the achievements presentation session, Bernadette Audije, Chief Technical Education and Skills Development Specialist of TESDA’s Competency Standards Development Division, introduced the strategies and processes for Philippine competency standards development. Duan Jian reported on the project’s phased outcomes, demonstrating its impact on talent cultivation, skill popularization, and industrial upgrading in the Philippines. Huang Chengming, Head of the Software Technology Program and Leader of the Big Data Engineering Technology Standards Development Team at Zhejiang Institute of Economics and Trade, shared insights on standards development.
In the standards handover ceremony, Lin Feng officially delivered the first batch of 14 vocational skills standards in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Sector to TESDA. These standards, co-developed by nearly 80 experts from 28 Chinese institutions and Philippine counterparts, align with the Philippines’ industrial characteristics and talent needs, covering fields such as big data engineering, cloud computing, e-commerce, and procurement.
The event recognized institutions and experts involved in Phase I standards development and held the Phase II Project Signing Ceremony.
The successful hosting of this event marks a new milestone in China-Philippines vocational education cooperation. As the lead institution, the school will continue to uphold the principles of mutual benefit and openness, leverage the advantages of its overseas teaching center—the China-Philippines Silk Road Institute of Economics & Trade—and foster resource sharing and talent development to advance vocational education and industrial collaboration between the two nations.
