On October 22–23, the 2024 Global Forum on Digital Transformation of Vocational Education (Shenzhen) was successfully held at Shenzhen Polytechnic University (hereinafter referred to as “Shenzhen PolyU”). The forum was co-hosted by the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, the UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office for East Asia, and Shenzhen PolyU. Nearly 130 representatives from government departments, educational institutions, industries, enterprises, and international organizations across 35 countries attended the forum. Focusing on “Vocational Education Transformation in the Era of Artificial Intelligence,” participants explored pathways for integrating digital governance in global vocational education with AI technologies, shared best practices in digital capacity building, curriculum reform, and technology-driven school-enterprise collaboration, and collectively advanced the development of a more resilient and dynamic global vocational education system.
As a strategic partner of UNESCO, OS-EASY participated in the forum. Xing Taiquan, Director of International Markets at OS-EASY, delivered a keynote speech, sharing insights on vocational education innovation in digital scenarios, including smart classroom resource libraries, new models for online and offline experimental teaching, and successful overseas case studies.
Conference Venue (Image)
Xing Taiquan, Director of International Markets at OS-EASY, Delivers a Presentation (Image)
During the forum, five major outcomes of the UNESCO Chair in Digital Transformation of Technical and Vocational Education (hereinafter referred to as the “Chair”) since its establishment in 2022 were released. These include a global research report on digital transformation in vocational education, teaching standards for 28 specialized fields, curriculum standards for 50 digital technology-related programs, 100 outstanding case studies, and 16 online courses on digital technologies. Yang Xinbin, Chairholder and Party Secretary of Shenzhen PolyU, stated that the Chair would continue to deepen research, promote global digital transformation in vocational education, and enhance youth employability and digital skills.
Five Major Outcomes Released (Image)
Yang Xinbin Announces Chair Outcomes (Image)
The forum was co-hosted by UNESCO-UNEVOC, the UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office for East Asia, and Shenzhen PolyU. Nearly 130 representatives from government departments, educational institutions, industries, enterprises, and international organizations across 35 countries attended the forum. Discussions centered on “Vocational Education Transformation in the Era of Artificial Intelligence,” exploring pathways for integrating digital governance in global vocational education with AI technologies, sharing best practices in digital capacity building, curriculum reform, and technology-driven school-enterprise collaboration, and collectively advancing the development of a more resilient and dynamic global vocational education system.
Group Photo of Attendees (Image)
Chair Outcomes Released: Leading Global Digital Transformation in Vocational Education
At the opening ceremony, Zhong Jiajun, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, emphasized Shenzhen’s commitment to international cooperation platforms. He noted that the forum provided a crucial opportunity for the global vocational education community to address challenges in the AI era.
Zhong Jiajun Delivers a Speech (Image)
Cai Maozhou, Chief Inspector of the Shenzhen Municipal Education Bureau, highlighted Shenzhen’s role as a hub for technological innovation. He reiterated the city’s dedication to integrating vocational education with the digital economy to foster innovation and nurture digital talent.
Cai Maozhou Delivers a Speech (Image)
Shahbaz Khan, Director of the UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office for East Asia, praised the contributions of the UNESCO Chair at Shenzhen PolyU in advancing digital transformation. He affirmed UNESCO’s continued support for international cooperation to tackle global vocational education challenges.
Shahbaz Khan Delivers a Speech (Image)
Li Shengyang, Vice President of Huawei’s Public Sector Business Group, expressed Huawei’s willingness to collaborate with universities and vocational institutions in digital education, leveraging its advanced technologies and solutions to support the digital transformation of vocational education.
Li Shengyang Delivers a Speech (Image)
Xu Jianling, Deputy Party Secretary and President of Shenzhen PolyU, reviewed the university’s achievements in international cooperation. He pledged ongoing support for the UNESCO Chair’s initiatives and expressed readiness to deepen collaboration with UNESCO and global partners to drive digital transformation in vocational education worldwide.
Xu Jianling Delivers a Speech (Image)
Keynote Reports and Thematic Discussions: Exploring AI-Driven Pathways for Global Digital Transformation in Vocational Education
During the keynote session, Yang Xinbin, Chairholder and Party Secretary of Shenzhen PolyU, presented on “Digital Transformation of Vocational Education from the Perspective of New Quality Productivity.” He elaborated on the context of vocational education reform in the digital intelligence era, transformation pathways driven by new quality productivity, and Shenzhen PolyU’s digital transformation solutions, offering valuable theories and case studies for global vocational education.
Professor Zhu Zhiting from East China Normal University explored the essence, logic, and opportunities of digital transformation in education, providing methodological insights and strategies for global vocational education systems.
Zhu Zhiting Delivers a Keynote Report (Image)
The forum also featured three thematic sessions covering digital governance, institutional capacity building, and industry-education integration, offering multifaceted support and practical pathways for comprehensive vocational education transformation in the digital age.
Opening Ceremony Hosted by Li Yue (Image)
Building International Platforms to Promote AI-Empowered Global Digital Transformation in Vocational Education
International Experts Engage in a Roundtable Discussion (Image)
As the flagship annual event of the UNESCO Chair, the Global Forum on Digital Transformation of Vocational Education has successfully convened twice since its inception in 2022, attracting widespread global attention. Moving forward, the Chair will continue to foster cross-regional, national, and institutional collaboration through a series of activities, promoting China’s advanced theories and practices in vocational education digitalization.
The forum also included visits to Huawei and Shenzhen PolyU for on-site exchanges, broadening participants’ international perspectives. The forum’s proceedings and outcomes will be disseminated via the Chair’s official website and the UNESCO-UNEVOC network, reaching over 140 countries and further amplifying the Chair’s global impact.
Attentive Audience at the Forum (Image)
