EducationPlus 2025 (Sichuan) International Vocational Education Conference

On June 11th, the EducationPlus 2025 (Sichuan) International Vocational Education Conference and Industry-Education Integration Expo opened in Chengdu. This conference was jointly guided by the Sichuan Provincial Department of Education, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, the German Federal Institute for Vocational and Technical Education and Training, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the State of Baden-Württemberg, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in China, the German Federation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, and the German Federal Association of Corporate Vocational Trainers. It was jointly hosted by the German Education Industry Association and Messe Stuttgart GmbH, and co-organized by the Sichuan Provincial Education Foreign Exchange Center, Nanjing Stuttgart Joint Exhibition Co., Ltd., and the Shandong Industry-Education Integration Comprehensive Service Platform. Shi Jing, member of the Provincial Education Work Committee, member of the Party Leadership Group of the Provincial Education Department, and Deputy Director of the Provincial Education Department, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.

Themed "Developing New Quality Productivity and Empowering Internationalization of Education", this conference aims to showcase the latest achievements in vocational education and industry-education integration at home and abroad, strengthen international cooperation and exchanges in vocational education, and promote the modernization of vocational education through various forms such as academic discussions, international exhibitions, innovation competitions, teacher training, and enterprise research.

The opening ceremony featured a series of announcements on the achievements of international cooperation and industry-education integration projects, as well as the awarding ceremonies for various alliance organizations and the presentation of awards for selection activities. The conference, spanning three days, included not only the opening ceremony and on-site exhibitions but also 13 academic seminars covering multiple fields such as smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence, new energy, and educational technology. Additionally, during the conference, a series of significant cooperation projects and achievements will be unveiled, showcasing the latest progress in international cooperation in vocational education.

"Over the past five years, from the heavy equipment vocational education cluster in Deyang to the 'Power Battery Industry-Education Park' in Yibin, from the 'Digital Craftsman' training program to the 'the Belt and Road' vocational education globalization initiative, Sichuan vocational education has delivered a substantial achievement with 'industry-education integration' as its main theme," Shi Jing said. In the future, Sichuan vocational education will anchor on "three breakthroughs" to stand at the forefront of reform, making Sichuan vocational education a "Silk Road station" connecting the world, and promoting Chinese vocational education standards globally.

It is reported that the EducationPlus International Vocational Education Conference and Industry-Education Integration Expo has been successfully held for eight editions in various cities including Nanjing, Guangzhou, Xi'an, Qingdao, Suzhou (Taicang), Changsha, and Wuxi. It serves as a significant platform for the exchange and integration of vocational education both domestically and internationally.

The conference gathered over 300 enterprises and institutions, representatives from multiple secondary and higher vocational colleges in the province, as well as representatives from educational institutions and enterprises in Germany, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Hungary, and other countries.