(In SIIT) China-Barbados TVET Standards and Curriculum Co-development Seminar
Release time：2024-07-17
On June 29, 2024, the China-Barbados TVET Standards and Curriculum Co-development Seminar, co-hosted by Shenzhen Institute of Information Technology and Guangdong Vcom Education Technology Co., Ltd., was successfully held in Shenzhen, China. This seminar aimed to promote the development and cooperation of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) between the two countries.
Xu Zhiliang, vice principal of Shenzhen Institute of Information Technology warmly welcomed the guests from Barbados in his speech and briefly introduced the institute’s distinctive educational features and development achievements. As the host of this seminar, the institute actively explores new paths in vocational education to provide high-quality services for the digital economy. They innovate educational models to create a curriculum system that meets the needs of the digital economy; engage in deep cooperation with leading enterprises in the industry chain, implement industry-education integration, and jointly build laboratories and training bases; emphasize students’ practical skills through skills competitions and professional certifications to enhance their competitiveness; strengthen international cooperation by conducting joint training and academic exchanges to broaden students' horizons. Through these practices, the institute has cultivated a large number of high-quality talents for the digital economy and promoted the deep integration of vocational education with the digital economy.
During the seminar, Henderson Eastmond, the Executive Director of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council, expressed his wish that vocational education could establish international standards and be incorporated into the Caribbean region’s vocational education system in the future. Additionally, he hoped that Barbados could develop TVET well to boost the national economy and improve people’s living and economic standards. Based on this, the Barbados branch of the Global Training Center was successfully established, and a partnership with Shenzhen Institute of Information Technology and Vcom was also signed to better develop TVET. At the end of the meeting, he expressed his hope that Barbados could further cooperate with Chinese institutions and enterprises, emphasizing the importance of TVET development.
Dario Walcott, Technical Delegate of WorldSkills Barbados, introduced Barbados’ skill projects in the WorldSkills competition at the seminar, expressing hope for skill exchanges and learning opportunities with Chinese institutions and participants. He believes that China has made significant advancements in technology and hopes for further collaboration between institutions and enterprises of the two countries in TVET in the future.
Jennifer Huang, Secretary-General of the Global Training Center ( https://www.intskill.com/ ), introduced the Global Training Center, an online learning platform providing various skill courses based on WorldSkills project resources. She emphasized that all training courses related to the WorldSkills Competition strictly adhere to the technical standards of the competition and are open for free registration worldwide. At the meeting, she stated that the mission of the Global Training Center is to make skills learning easier and more enjoyable, and the vision is one world, one skill. The center hopes to establish global training sub-centers in various countries, enabling everyone in the world to learn the necessary skills.
Launch and unveilling ceremony of Barbados Branch of Global Training Center
At the seminar, representatives from vocational colleges in Barbados introduced the current status, development, and cooperation ideas of their respective institutions, including Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology, Barbados Community College, and Barbados Vocational Training Board. These institutions have unique characteristics and advantages in the field of vocational education, providing broad space for China-Barbados vocational education cooperation. They hope to cooperate with Chinese institutions, sending teachers and students to Chinese colleges for study, skills exchange, and training in the future. Students can obtain corresponding academic certificates, and teachers can enrich their skills and teaching experience. Of course, they also warmly welcome students from Chinese institutions to attend classes and study at Barbados colleges, realizing an exchange student model.
Signing ceremony of Vcom Education, Chinese institutions, Barbados TVET Council and Barbados institutions
Cathy Wang, CEO of Vcom, elaborated on the Optoelectronics International Teaching Standards and Curriculum Co-development Alliance. She expressed hope for more collaboration between China and Barbados in the future and encouraged more schools to join the alliance to contribute significantly to vocational education.
Representatives from other Chinese colleges, such as Zhang Ruixiang, the dean of Yizheng Technician College, also introduced the college’s unique features and explained that their professional training goals align with local industry development. He mentioned their current international collaboration and expressed a desire for further cooperation with Vcom and international schools to strengthen international skills exchanges. Wang Fukuang, the representative from Heyuan Polytechnic, introduced his school and mentioned that they are currently using equipment provided by Vcom. He expressed hope for enhanced cooperation and exchange with international institutions through Vcom’s facilitation. Yu Fei, the representative from Shenzhen Polytechnic University, stated that their school is collaborating with Huawei. It is one of the leading vocational institutions in China, training many highly skilled talents for Huawei and other high-tech companies annually. Additionally, Zhang Yunsheng, the dean of the International college of SIIT, emphasized the school’s focus on ICT technology and its continuous development, which has reached the top level nationwide.
Afterwards, the delegates visited the training base of SIIT and conducted in-depth teaching exchanges. Through field visits and exchanges, the participants spoke highly of the school-running strength and teaching level of SIIT, and indicated that they would further strengthen cooperation and exchanges with Chinese institutions.
The successful hosting of this China-Barbados TVET Standards and Curriculum Co-development Seminar not only provided valuable exchange opportunities for vocational education institutions in both countries but also laid a solid foundation for future cooperation. Moving forward, China and Barbados will continue to strengthen cooperation and exchanges in vocational education, jointly promoting the prosperity and development of TVET in both countries.
