Tianjin has escalated its presence in vocational education, becoming a powerful driver with international influence, according to a city-level vocational education conference held on Dec 24.

Government officials and educators attend the vocational education conference in Tianjin on Dec 24. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

To date, the city has directed the building of 20 Luban workshops across 19 Asian, African and European countries. Furthermore, 11 of the 85 professional teaching standards it has developed have been included in partner countries' national general and vocational system.

The Luban Workshop is a famous international vocational education project which originated in Tianjin, as well as having been promoted, organized and implemented by the city.

Over the past five years, the authority has supported 34 domestic vocational colleges in establishing such workshops overseas, reported a person in charge of the Tianjin Municipal Finance Bureau, adding that about 230 million yuan ($36.03 million) in funding had been allocated to 24 workshops, among which four are still being built.

The city plans to optimize the global layout during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, building workshops in Russia, Switzerland, and Central Asia. It hopes to continue to promote Chinese equipment, models and solutions, as well as cultivating technicians who are familiar with Chinese technology, craftsmanship and products.

Meanwhile, Tianjin will guide applied-oriented universities and vocational colleges  to cooperate with foreign institutes to help create high-level apprenticeship pilot zones, and to encourage teachers and students to participate in international skills competitions and other exchange activities.