A forum on modern vocational education was held at Tianjin University on Oct 15 after a national conference on vocational education, gathering over 150 government officials, experts, school and enterprise representatives.

A forum on modern vocational education kicks off inTianjin on Oct 15. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Sponsored by the Department of Vocational and Adult Education of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Tianjin Municipal Education Commission and Tianjin University, the forum aims to sum up the experience and achievements of vocational education in aligning teaching with real world needs, guided by the Opinion on Promoting the High-quality Development of Modern Vocational Education issued by Chinese central authorities. 

During the event, Sun Zhiliang, deputy director of the Tianjin Municipal Education Commission, emphasized that enterprise-school cooperation is a key to inject new vitality into both universities and the city and make them achieve high-quality development with unique characteristics. He noted that Tianjin will strive hard to become a national exemplar of vocational education.

Dean of the School of Education of Tianjin University Yan Guangfen said strengthening cooperation between enterprises and schools is conducive to supply-side structural reforms in talent cultivation. She vowed that Tianjin University will further leverage its strengths in both theoretical studies and practical explorations.

Vocational education plays an important part in the national education system and human resource development and has great prospects to build a modern socialist country, said Zeng Tianshan, deputy director of the Central Institute for Vocational and Technical Education affiliated to the MOE.

Many experts offered specific suggestions, which included establishing a national standard system for vocational education, implementing an occupational skill level certificate system, developing an apprenticeship system with Chinese characteristics, opening training bases that offer customized cultivation and centering on national and regional major strategies.

Leading enterprises were encouraged to take part in this initiative. Representatives from China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation, Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co and Aluminum Corporation of China shared their experience and practice in the development of vocational education over the past few years.

Industrial park representatives from Tianjin Haihe Education Park and Yantai city of East China's Shandong province also spoke about their efforts to integrate the overall planning of their industrial zones with vocational education.

Vocational academies from Shenzhen, Guangdong province, Jinhua, Zhejiang province and Tianjin municipality briefed attendees on their experience in developing expertise in cooperation with enterprises.

The forum also drew the attendance of representatives from different regional authorities, vocational universities, professional organizations and research institutes.