Bringing together more than 190 TVET policy makers researchers and practitioners from China and the UK, this high profile event aimed to boost the employability of Guangzhou students by focussing on developing curricula that meet the needs of local and national employers. Over the course of a one day seminar and two day workshop, delegates explored ways in which to develop occupational standards that reflected global industry standards, and then translate these standards into curricula that offer progression into the workplace.

The forum was the first of its kind to take place following the signing of the MOU on Vocational Education Cooperation between the China Ministry of Education and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) in July 2011. It forms part of the three year China-UK Joint Project on Progression Pathway from Secondary through to Tertiary Vocational Education, which is being funded by funded by British Council and the Guangdong Department of Education (GDoE) and also involves the Central Institute for Vocational & Technical Education, Ministry of Education (CIVTE).  

The seminar and workshop raised a number of interesting and useful ideas and experiences, which will feed into the development of pilot programmes focussing on numerical control, applied automotive technology, IT and tourism. These will run throughout Guangdong province, before rolling out to other parts of the country.  Four UK further education colleges have been selected to partner with eight Chinese vocational schools and colleges in order to develop a model that will turn ideas into activity.

Dr Liu from CIVTE said of the event: ‘I was extremely impressed by the professionalism of the delegates and am grateful for the tremendous support given by the UK experts and British Council staff. The Vice-Minister Lu Xin is paying special attention to this pilot project, and I am sure the Guang Dong experience could provide a good model for other provinces to follow in China.’