Wuhu Vocational Education Flourishes In Cooperation with International Partners

Source: Reported by Li Junting, Wuhu FAO

At the invitation of Anhui Business College, Abdul Aziz How Abdullah, director of Education Malaysia Beijingand counsellor of Embassy of Malaysia in China, came to Wuhu to attend the Belt and Road Talent Training Forum 2019 from January 6 to 9.

Anhui Business College is one of the 200 demonstration backbone vocational colleges in China. The school has kept its enrollment rate at 100% and the employment rate at 98% for years. According to Mycos, the first company in China specializing in higher education management data analytics, the salaries of graduates from this college are higher than the average of similar schools.

Ms.Woon Chee Chee, consultant of the Chinese Language and Culture Center of Politeknik Ungku Omar PUO, Malaysia, Ms. Yeoh Poh See, a staff member of the International Department of PUO, and Counsellor Aziz How held talks on student exchanges with Anhui Business College. The delegation headed by the counsellor inspected the departments of art design, finance and tourism management and asked about the operation of the disciplines. Malaysia has pioneered and made remarkable achievement in the framework-innovation for vocational education and in the sharing of resources between middle schools and vocational colleges.

Mrs. Puttachard Suphalucksana, director of the international vocational education cooperation center of the Thai Vocational Education Group, headed a 21-member delegation to Wuhu and 15 Thai students will stay in Wuhu for two weeks to learn Chinese culture in the Short-term Cultural Exchange Program for Foreign Students to China. It is learned that, in addition to the basic Chinese language classes, the school has also opened paper-cut, Kungfu, Chinese calligraphy, folk songs, Huangmei Opera, local dance and other courses for students to experience Chinese culture.

The vocational education in Wuhu has developed its own characteristics. The schools have not only arranged classes to meet the need of local industry but also established partnership with enterprises of the city. Wuhu has established a joint vocational college called DIC Finance Service Centre, opened "Squirrel Class"(Three Squirrel), "SF Express Class", set up a film and television studio titled Jiangnan Dream Workshop, and a series of art design education featuring three stations, two studios, and one workshop. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia. With the international exchange programs of local colleges and schools, the vocational education of Wuhu will surely bring about new opportunities for development.