Dr. Marin Marinov, President of European Polytechnic University-Pernik Joint The "Belt and Road" International Seminar on Reform and Development of Vocational Education (Shenyang)

Source：HongZhou Learning 2023-09-28 2635

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the "Belt and Road" initiative and in order to learn and implement President Xi Jinping's important discourse on promoting high-quality development of the "Belt and Road," vigorously promote the internationalization of vocational education, serve international capacity cooperation, as well as greatly strengthen practical cooperation in vocational education with "Belt and Road" countries, The "Belt and Road" International Seminar on Reform and Development of Vocational Education (Shenyang) (hereafter: the Seminar) was held on September 27, 2023, in Shenyang, Liaoning Province. Dr. Marin Marinov, President of European Polytechnic University-Pernik, Bulgaria, was invited to attend the conference by Hongzhou Learning. It was hosted by the Education Department of Liaoning Province, hosted by Liaoning Provincial College of Communications, and co-sponsored by 14 higher education institutions in the province.

On the afternoon of September 26, the roundtable meeting of the Seminar  was convened. The meeting was presided over by Gao Xianghui, Deputy Director of the Education Department of Liaoning Province. Representatives from 20 education administrative departments, academic societies, industry associations, universities, and domestic provincial-level education administrative departments attended the meeting. During the meeting, they introduced the main content of the "Shenyang Agreement," the progress of vocational education professional accreditation in Liaoning Province, and the planning for vocational education professional accreditation.

In the opening remarks, representatives including Wang Qingdong, Director of the Education Department of Liaoning Province, and those from China, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Russia, and Mongolia, delivered speeches. 

During the keynote address session, 11 representatives from ten different countries, including China, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Germany, Indonesia, South Korea, Laos, the Philippines, Thailand, and the United Kingdom, delivered keynote speeches. The speakers included Mr. Huang Hui, Deputy Director of the Vocational Education Development Center of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Gao Hong, President of the Liaoning Vocational and Technical Education Association, and Mr. Marin Petrov, President of the Pernik European Industrial University.

Dr. Marin Marinov, President of European Polytechnic University-Pernik, Bulgaria, mentioned that vocational education is an important force in nurturing talents and promoting industrial development in all countries. He emphasized the need to strengthen international exchanges and cooperation in vocational education, share educational resources, and promote the internationalization of vocational education to better cultivate high-quality, versatile talents that meet the industrial needs of different countries. Additionally, vocational education should act as a bridge in international capacity cooperation. Through the establishment of vocational skill training centers and the provision of technical consulting services, countries can help each other improve their industrial capabilities and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

After that, during the "Higher Vocational Education Professional Accreditation Forum" and the "Vocational Education 'Going Global' Overseas Education Exchange and Cooperation Forum," eleven representatives from education administrative departments, academic societies, industry associations, universities, and domestic provincial-level education administrative departments, including Li Zhiyi, former President of Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, National Inspector, and Director of the Conclusion Advisory Committee of China Engineering Education Accreditation, delivered speeches.

At the signing ceremony, representatives from 13 countries, including China, Cambodia, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, Thailand, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom, signed the "Shenyang Agreement." Additionally, nine countries, including Russia, Mongolia, Cambodia, Ghana, Laos, Thailand, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tunisia, signed cooperation agreements for the first batch of 10 "Mozi Workshop" collaborative projects.

At the conclusion of the conference, Wang Qingdong, Director of the Education Department of Liaoning Province, released the "Liaoning Declaration."

Hongzhou Learning will actively implement President Xi Jinping's strategy to improve education's opening-up, effectively manage both "bringing in" and "going out" initiatives, and cooperate with partners such as education administrative departments, academic societies, industry associations, and universities. They will make good use of world-class educational resources and innovative elements, promote the internationalization of vocational education, and jointly build a modern vocational education system that meets the new economic and social development requirements of various countries and regions. This effort aims to create a community of shared interests in the integration of education and industry between nations and regions.