Industry-education integration is the inevitable path for vocational education, yet how to achieve it effectively is a common challenge faced by countries around the world. On November 21, during the World Conference on Vocational and Technical Education Development, a parallel forum on promoting the high-quality development of vocational education through industry-education integration was held. Education department heads, university experts, and business representatives from multiple countries exchanged and shared their practical experiences in promoting industry-education integration and school-enterprise cooperation.

"With technological advancements in various industries, the demand for skilled labor that can adapt to challenges and lead innovations is growing." He Hui, head of the Science and Education Department at the Swiss Embassy in China, introduced that Switzerland is one of the countries with the lowest youth unemployment rate in Europe. There are many reasons for this, with the most important being the high-quality vocational education and training system, where Swiss enterprises play a leading role in developing apprenticeship programs and certifying standards.

He Hui gave an example of the global-leading Swiss elevator and escalator company, Schindler Group, collaborating with vocational schools to develop training programs. These programs integrate the company’s specific technical requirements and safety protocols into the curriculum. Students are trained on Schindler products and operational standards and can obtain qualifications for operating special equipment. The company also grades skills to systematically improve students' technical and safety abilities.

Strengthening the central role of industries and enterprises in industry-education integration is a common choice for countries promoting this integration. For example, China’s vocational education is advancing the construction of city-based industry-education joint entities and industry-specific integration bodies, strengthening cooperation between vocational colleges and enterprises in running schools, cultivating talents, providing employment opportunities, and fostering development, so that graduates from vocational institutions are truly welcomed by employers.

"Enterprises should participate in the entire process of talent cultivation in schools, from professional development to various teaching methods, as well as employment guidance and internships before employment. This ensures that the talents cultivated by schools can follow through and be directly involved in specific industry work. Only in this way can the talents truly be suitable for the industry." Wu Yu, Executive Council Member of the China Vocational and Technical Education Society and Vice President of Qihoo 360 Group, believes.

How can the whole of society be mobilized to support vocational education and industry-education integration? Attendees shared experiences from different countries. "Industry and enterprises’ participation in vocational education curriculum construction is crucial. We have spent a lot of time working with relevant industries to research how to incorporate the latest industry developments into the curriculum. This process requires mobilizing the enthusiasm of enterprises," said Lusulu Prishis Mkhiba, Director of the Vocational Education Department at Zambia’s Ministry of Science and Technology. Zambia supports industry-education integration through legislation and has also established a Skills Advisory Committee comprising industries such as manufacturing, mining, agriculture, and various government departments, to provide industry insights for talent training.

Currently, with the deepening of international capacity cooperation, industry-education integration must go global. Attendees emphasized the importance of strengthening mutual learning and sharing among countries in vocational education.

"Whether domestically or abroad, we have always adhered to deep school-enterprise cooperation and industry-education integration. Our approach is the same in Cambodia," said Xie Yonghua, Party Secretary and President of Nanjing Industrial Vocational and Technical College.

Xie Yonghua introduced that Cambodia University of Applied Science and Technology, China’s first overseas applied technology university, has established cooperative relationships with several Chinese and local enterprises, including Huawei Technologies Cambodia Ltd. and Cambodia Electric Grid Ltd. They jointly built experimental training bases, developed teaching materials and training courses, and created a bridge for students from the classroom to the workplace. The enterprises have invested over 20 million yuan in total.

"Laos and China have a long history of cooperation in vocational education, and we strongly agree with China’s reform concepts in vocational education," said Tongsa Inteng, Deputy Director of the Department of Technical and Vocational Education at the Ministry of Education and Sports of Laos. China and Laos jointly established the Luban Workshop and conducted "Chinese + Vocational Skills" training. This helps Laotian institutions develop scientific and reasonable talent cultivation plans and has led to fruitful cooperation.

"Countries around the world should strengthen international exchanges and cooperation in vocational education and work to cultivate more high-quality technical and skilled talents," said Tongsa Inteng. (Report by Ou Mei)

This article is reproduced from [中国教育报].