BPC Holds the Signing Ceremony of Sino-British Centre for Industry-Driven Vocational Education

On April 19, in the presence of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission and the Welsh Government of the United Kingdom, Beijing Polytechnic College (BPC) held the Signing Ceremony of the Sino-British Centre for Industry-Driven Vocational Education, in collaboration with The Association of Education and Technology (AET) and NPTC Group of Colleges in the United Kingdom. Xu Dandan, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Division of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, participated in the signing ceremony online. Attending the event in person were Susan Jiang, a representative of the Welsh Government of the United Kingdom, Dr. Cas Widdershoven, Vice Chairman of AET, and Wu Yinxia, Executive Chair of AET's China Division. Joining online were also Catherine Lewis, Principal and Deputy CEO of NPTC Group of Colleges, Vicky Burroughs, Assistant Principal of Higher Education, Steve Rhodes, Assistant Principal of Worldwide Operations, and Christopher Manley, Senior Lecturer for International Operations. Zhou Yan, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Committee and Deputy Dean of BPC, Meng Qing, Director of the International Exchanges and Cooperation Office, Xie Ligao, Deputy Director of the International Exchanges and Cooperation Office, along with relevant staff, also attended the signing ceremony. The event was presided over by Director Meng Qing.

(Main venue of the signing ceremony)

(Online venue of the signing ceremony)

Xu Dandan, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Division of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, highlighted in his speech that vocational education, being the form of education most closely tied to economic and social development, has consistently been a high priority for both the state and Beijing. The UK has a rich history and deep heritage in industrial manufacturing, and its vocational education is among the best in the world. The signing of the Sino-British Centre for Industry-Driven Vocational Education signifies not only a significant advancement for BPC but also a major step toward opening Beijing's vocational education to the global community. This robust collaboration among the three parties is poised to usher in a new era of practical and efficient cooperation, fostering the integration of industry and education while jointly nurturing high-quality international technical talent.

(Online speech by Xu Dandan, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Division of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission)

Susan Jiang from the Welsh Government's Beijing Office introduced the basic situation of the Welsh Government and made a speech. In her speech, Ms. Susan Jiang emphasized the Welsh Government's ongoing commitment to fostering coordinated development and cooperation between Wales and China across various industrial sectors. In recent years, significant progress has been made in vocational education collaboration, both in terms of breadth and depth. This progress also plays a crucial role in facilitating bilateral business cooperation across multiple industries. As one of the largest vocational education groups in Wales and the broader UK, NPTC Group of Colleges has brought its rich experience in vocational education accumulated over the past 180 years to China through the Sino-British Centre for Industry-Driven Vocational Education project jointly launched with AET, establishing a unique cooperation platform for Chinese vocational colleges and international high-level vocational education institutions.

(Speech by Susan Jiang from the Welsh Government's Beijing Office)

Vice President Zhou Yan provided an overview of BPC and gave a speech. She noted that the Sino-British Centre for Industry-Driven Vocational Education, jointly established by BPC, AET, and NPTC Group of Colleges, not just serves as a new bridge for international cooperation in vocational education but also represents a significant milestone in joint progress. The establishment of the Centre will powerfully drive the deep integration of China-British vocational education, enhance cooperation in the field, and jointly explore new avenues for the integration of industry and education. This will also help cultivate more highly qualified and skilled specialists to contribute to the socioeconomic development of both nations. We are confident that through the collaborative efforts of China and the UK, we will introduce the UK's advanced vocational education concepts and teaching models to the Centre. By drawing on the UK's advanced experience and aligning it with the actual demand of China's industrial development, we will collaboratively develop a curriculum and teaching content that are more targeted and practical. Together, we will cultivate high-end technical and skilled talent who possess an international vision as well as have a strong understanding of the local industrial environment. This will empower our graduates to excel in the domestic industry and shine on the international stage.

(Speech by Zhou Yan, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Committee and Vice President of BPC)

Dr. Cas Widdershoven, Vice Chairman of AET, provided a brief overview of the organization. He highlighted that the association is dedicated to enhancing inter-school exchanges and pedagogical cooperation between the UK and other countries across various educational levels, including early education, basic education, vocational education, and higher education. AET aims to cultivate a global perspective among students, bolster science and technology education, and develop essential skills for the 21st century. AET is greatly honored to be part of this significant collaboration and as a bridge, it is committed to actively providing additional expertise, resources, and educational opportunities to ensure the success and sustainability of this partnership.

(Speech by Dr. Cas Widdershoven, Vice Chairman of AET)

Steve Rhodes, a representative of NPTC Group of Colleges, attended the meeting online and delivered a speech. Rhodes stated that NPTC is among the most prestigious vocational colleges in the UK. Over the years, the group has engaged in communication and idea exchanges with numerous Chinese colleges, launching a program for a thousand vocational teachers. This initiative aims to support these teachers in transforming classroom, factory, and training base education towards industry-driven vocational education. The goal is to bridge the workforce skills gap to support China's economic development and nurture students into highly qualified industrial professionals with practical skills and a deep understanding of the latest industry practices.

(Speech by Steve Rhodes, a representative of NPTC Group of Colleges)

The participants signed the agreement both online and offline in the presence of representatives of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission and the Welsh Government's Beijing Office and took a group photo.

(Representatives of the three parties sign the agreement in the presence of other guests)

(Simultaneous online and offline signing)

(Simultaneous online and offline signing)

The Sino-British Centre for Industry-Driven Vocational Education marks a new milestone in China-Britain cooperation in vocational education, infusing fresh energy into the friendship and collaboration between the two countries. Established through the collaboration of BPC, AET, and NPTC Group of Colleges, the Centre not only serves as a new bridge for international cooperation in vocational education but also stands as a milestone of joint progress. The establishment of the Centre will powerfully drive the deep integration of China-British vocational education, enhance cooperation in the field, and jointly explore new avenues for the integration of industry and education. This will also help cultivate more highly qualified and skilled specialists to contribute to the socioeconomic development of both nations. BPC will seize this opportunity to continually deepen bilateral exchanges and cooperation, working collaboratively to advance the innovative development of vocational education. Together, we aim to craft a remarkable chapter in China-Britain vocational education cooperation.