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In an effort to strengthen and enhance cooperation on Technical and Vocational Education and Training, at the invitation of Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute in Shaanxi Province, China, Mr. Robert Parua, Education Programme Specialist from the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia paid a courtesy visit to Xianyang from 9 to 11 May 2024. The main objective of the courtesy visit was to explore potential areas of cooperation between Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute and UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia. 

Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute (SXPI) has been a member of UNEVOC Network since 2022. The UNEVOC Network is UNESCO¡¯s global network for institutions specialized in technical and vocational education and training (TVET). It provides a solid platform for exchange, cooperation and mutual assistance for its members ¡ª UNEVOC Centres. Through international collaboration and peer learning, UNEVOC Centres continue to enhance the quality of TVET teaching and learning opportunities offered in their respective countries. SXPI has been recognized as one of the ten A level TVET institutions by the Chinese Ministry of Education, and supported by  Shaanxi provincial government. SXPI had been closely working with UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia to promote TVET activities in China and beyond. SXPI has implemented core thematic areas in TVET, such as digitalization in TVET, TVET for green economies, fostering youth employment, private sector engagement and entrepreneurship, TVET teacher training and TVET education quality. These themes are closely aligned with UNESCO¡¯s global strategy for TVET. 

During the visit, Mr. Parua met with Mr. Tian Hao, Deputy Secretary of Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute Party Committee and Prof. Qin Jingjun, Head of UNEVOC Centre & Dean of International Education School of SXPI. The two parties reviewed past collaboration and discussed on potential areas of joint collaboration with Chinese Ministry of Education and SXPI on  thematic areas such TVET policy dialogue, capacity development, research and case studies, student and staff exchange, international seminars and conferences and field visits by staff and teachers from UNEVOC Centres in Mongolia and other countries. Mr. Parua stressed on the important role of UNEVOC Centres to promote increased opportunities for productive work, sustainable livelihoods, personal empowerment and socio-economic development, especially for youth, women and the disadvantaged. He assured the SXPI officials that both the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia in Beijing and UNESCO International Centre for TVET in Bonn, Germany are strongly committed to working closely with the SXPI UNEVOC Centre to connect internationally with UNEVOC Centres in East and South East Asia region. The two parties discussed the participation of SXPI at the upcoming 2024  East and South East Asia Regional UNEVOC Consultation in Seoul, South Korea. He also noted the SDG4 alignment, Greening TVET, Digitalization in TVET and quality and relevance of TVET are very important.

After the fruitful  bi-lateral meeting with Senior Officials, Mr. Parua made a presentation to staff and students on UNESCO¡¯s TVET Programme, global strategy on TVET and the UNEVOC network. Mr. Parua in his presentation stressed on the role of education sector of UNESCO, UNESCO mission, highlighted the UNESCO TVET programme and thematic areas and global UNEVOC Network, and underlined the concept and values of Greening TVET. Nearly 100 students and teachers of SXPI and its international partners joined online and offline and actively participated in the discussions after the presentation. The presentation was also joined by students from UNEVOC Centres in Africa, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Indonesia  and other countries. The students were very interested in UNESCO¡¯s TVET Programme and had a friendly exchange with Mr. Parua. 

On 10^th May, Mr. Parua was taken on a tour of the TVET training facilities and brand-new state-of-the-art library and the new smart campus of SXPI. 

This visit to Xianyang further solidified relationships and laid the groundwork for future joint initiatives. It does not only strengthen existing partnerships but also paved the way for enhancing cooperation in the realms of TVET between UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia and Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute. The two parties will certainly continue to jointly develop innovative projects, capacity-building programmes and collaborative activities with UNEVOC Centres in China and East and South East Asia and globally.

The UNEVOC global network of TVET Institutions is a knowledge platform and the affiliated centres share best practices, discuss TVET policy issues, build capacity and promote globally UNESCO TVET skills agenda aligned with UNESCO¡¯s Global Strategy on TVET (2022-2029) which covers broad range of thematic areas such as TVET policy framework, TVET qualifications framework, capacity development, standard setting, qualifications framework, green skills and knowledge development and sharing of best practices. Through its capacity development programmes, collaborative projects and global UNEVOC Network, UNESCO-UNEVOC advocates for quality TVET that is accessible for all.

For more information: 

• UNESCO International Centre for TVET :
• TVET Section of UNESCO
• UNESCO TVET Strategy