Draw a New Blueprint for Education Together! Sino-North Africa International Education Innovation Cooperation Forum and Inaugural Meeting of the Chinese Council of the Sino-North Africa Education Innovation Association Held!

The 17th August witnessed the convening of Sino-North Africa International Education Innovation Cooperation Forum and Inaugural Meeting of the Chinese Council of the Sino-North Africa Education Innovation Association in Changsha City. Guided by the Tunisian Ministry of Education and the Office of Vocational Training and Employment Promotion of the Kingdom of Morocco (hereafter OFPPT), this event is co-organized by Sino-North Africa Education Innovation Association (hereafter SNAEIA) and Yiwu Industry & Commercial College.

6 government leaders from Education Ministry of Morocco, OFPPT, and Regional Academy of Education and Training; 16 presidents and vice-presidents of Marrakech Private University, Mundiapolis University, University of Sousse of Tunisia, University Centrale in Tunisia; Nearly 100 important leaders from institutions and colleges such as of China Center for International Educational Exchange (hereafter CCIEE), Beijing Polytechnic, and Yiwu Industry & Commercial College were invited to attend the conference.

Professor Mohammed Barkaoui, SNAEIA President, President of Mundiapolis University, and Chairman of Moroccan University Presidents Alliance, stated in his speech that the profound significance of education internationalization is becoming increasingly prominent in this era of globalization. Education is not only about teaching & learning, knowledge & culture, cooperation & exchange, but also the foundation for promoting the joint construction of a community with a shared future for mankind. Therefore, it is our common responsibility and mission to strengthen international education cooperation, improve the management and service capabilities of educators in international exchange and cooperation, as well as promote the innovative development of vocational education.

Mr. Yang Jingli, President of Cangzhou Technical College, stated in his speech that the Forum has not only provided strong support for China's vocational education to go global, but also built a friendship bridge for cooperation and exchange in vocational education between China and North Africa. President Yang said by working together with SNAEIA in the future, he will conduct various forms of educational exchange activities with North African countries in some advantageous majors and distinctive courses at Cangzhou Technical College. Meanwhile, he also looks forward to deepening exchanges and cooperation in various fields with countries around the globe for friendship flowers worldwide in full bloom.

Mr. Zhang Jing, CCIEE Director, stated in his speech that the convening of Inaugural Meeting of SNAEIA Chinese Council has played a very important role in the exchange and development of international education in China and North African countries. In the coming days, CCIEE will also join hands with SNAEIA to carry out beneficial cooperation. By working together with all member organizations, CCIEE will achieve new breakthroughs, highlights and models, and push forward China's education "going global" and international education "bringing in" process.

Mr. Abdelmoumen Talib, Director of Regional Academy of Education and Training Casablanca, Morocco, expressed his congratulations on the successful convening of Sino-North Africa Internatonal Education Innovation Cooperation Forum and the successful establishment of SNAFIA Chinese Council. In the future, he is willing to contribute more to international education and cultural exchanges by actively cooperating with SNAFIA.

Mr. Mohamed Knidiri, Ex-Minister of Ministry of Education Morocco and the President of Marrakech Private University, expressed his gratitude to SNAEIA for inviting leaders and presidents from education authorities and universities in Morocco and Tunisia, to attend this grand event in beautiful China, enabling them to learn, understand, and perceive China’s high-quality vocational education. Mr. Knidiri also expressed his hope to take this opportunity to expand exchanges and cooperation with Chinese colleges and universities, and widely carry out practical cooperation in multiple majors, fields, and forms.

At Inaugural Meeting of the SNAEIA Chinese Council, Mr. Mohamed Knidiri, Ex-Minister of Ministry of Education Morocco and President of Marrakech Private University, Prof. Mohammed Barkaoui, SNAEIA President, Mr. Zhang Jing, CCIEE Director, Mr. Hedi Belhaj Salah, President of Monastir University, and Mr. Fan Yao, Vice-President of Yiwu Industry & Commercial College, Mr. Kais Mabrouk, SNAEIA Vice-President, and Mr. Abdellatif Mazouz, SNAEIA Vice-President, were invited to take the stage and light up the prosperous development path of the Association with the joint witness of all guests.

At the Plaque Awarding Ceremony for Chinese Council Member Organizations of Sino-North Africa Education Innovation Association, Beijing Polytechnic was elected as the Director Organization, and Yiwu Industry & Commercial College was elected as Standing Deputy Director Organization. Prof. Mohammed Barkaoui, SNAEIA President, awarded plaques to the two colleges respectively.

Deputy Director Organizations are Hunan Vocational College of Railway Technology, Shijiazhuang Institute of Railway Technology, Binzhou Polytechnic, Zhejiang Technical Institute of Economics, Zhejiang Dongfang Polytechnic, Henan Polytechnic Institute, Changzhou Vocational Institute of Mechatronic Technology, Liming Vocational University, Liaoning Petrochemical College, Caofeidian College of Technology, Cangzhou Technical College, JiangSu Shipping College, Tangshan Maritime Institute, Dazhou Vocational and Technical College, Hubei Urban Construction Vocational And Technological College. Mr. Mohamed Knidiri, Ex-Minister of Ministry of Education Morocco and President of Marrakech Private University, awarded plaques to these colleges.

At the Awarding Ceremony of Appointment Certificate for Chinese Council Members of SNAEIA, Mr. Fan Yao from Yiwu Industry & Commercial College and Mr. Shen Baozhong from Binzhou Polytechnic were elected as the Standing Deputy Directors-General. Ms. Nadia Lakhmiri, Director of International Cooperation of Education Ministry of Morocco, presented them letters of appointment.

Mr. Qu Baozhong, Vice-President of Henan Polytechnic Institute, Mr. Zhang Bo, Dean of the School of Transportation Engineering, Changzhou Vocational Institute of Mechatronic Technology, Mr. Chen Bin, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President, Hunan Vocational College of Railway Technology, Mr. Yang Jingli, President of Cangzhou Technical College, Mr. Wang Yanting, President of Caofeidian College of Technology, Mr. Ai Shui, Director of Technology & Social Services Division, Dazhou Vocational and Technical College,Ms. Liu Lingling, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee & Vice-President, Zhejiang Dongfang Polytechnic, Mr. Hao Wanxin, Vice-President of Liaoning Petrochemical College, Mr. Li Junsong, Chairman of Tangshan Maritime Institute, Mr. Cheng Chaosheng, Secretary of the Party Committee, Hubei Urban Construction Vocational And Technological College, and Mr. Zhao Tiefeng, Deputy Director of International Exchange & Cooperation Center of Inner Mongolia Technical College of Construction, were elected as Deputy Directors-General. Mr. Abderrahim Mifdal, Regional Director Rabat of OFPPT issued letters of appointment to them.

At the Plaque Awarding Ceremony for Foreign Members of SNAEIA Chinese Council, Mr. Zhang Jing, CCIEE Director, awarded plaques to the following foreign members: Education Ministry of Morocco, OFPPT, Regional Academy of Education and Training Casablanca, University of Sousse, Mundiapolis University, Monastir University, University of Hassan II Casablanca, University Chouaib Doukkali, Marrakech Private University, University Centrale in Tunisia, Esprit Education Group, Ibn Ghazi Preparatory School, and Charif AI Idrissi School.

At the Name-list Announcement and Signing Ceremony for the First Batch Preparation Bases (Construction) from China and North Africa National Vocational and Technical Colleges, on behalf of SNAEIA, Professor Mohammed Barkaoui, SNAEIA President, signed MOUs with Yiwu Industrial & Commercial College, Hunan Vocational College of Railway Technology, Binzhou Polytechnic, Henan Polytechnic Institute, Changzhou Vocational Institute of Mechatronic Technology, Cangzhou Technical College, Caofeidian College of Technology, Tangshan Maritime Institute, respectively.

Mr. Abderrahim Mifdal, Regional Director Rabat of OFPPT, solemnly announced the "China - Morocco Vocational Standards Co-construction Project". He stated that the official release of the Project offers feasible guidance for higher educational institution in China and Morocco to carry out project cooperation in the field of vocational education with different models, types, and levels. Vocational standards, as the prerequisite for the cultivation of higher technical specialized talents in the context of the new century, new era, new challenges, and new opportunities, are also the basic ways for combination of School & Enterprise, Scholar & Worker, Theory & Practice. Chinese and Moroccan educators should work together to share excellent educational resources, establish a vocational standard system that meets each other's needs, as well as accumulate typical experience through cooperative projects. Let cooperation lead demonstration to truly promote the prosperity and development of professions in China and Morocco.

In the keynote report section, Ms. Nadia Lakhmiri, Director of International Cooperation of Education Ministry of Morocco, delivered a keynote report on "Morocco-China Academic and Scientific Cooperation", which deeply analyzed the infinite possibilities of academic and scientific cooperation between China and Morocco, and also provided useful reference for both sides in carrying out international cooperation and exchanges.

Mr. Abderrahim Mifdal, Regional Director Rabat of OFPPT, delivered a keynote report on “The Development of Vocational Training in Morocco and the Prospect of Cooperation with China”, elaborating on the bright prospects for sustainable development in various fields such as international cooperation and innovative development in vocational education between Morocco and China in the future.

Prof. Tian Ye, Ex-Dean of School of International Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, delivered a keynote report titled “Promotion of Ideological & Political Level and Management Service Capability for the Cadres in Responsible for International Students Study in China”, emphasizing that the work related to internationalization of higher education and foreign affairs management services at colleges and universities cannot be separated from institutional construction and the dedication of cadres in responsible for international students study in China. Important guidance for the management of foreign affairs and "Chinese + Vocational Skills Education" at colleges and universities were also provided.

Dr. Chen Lu, Secretary General of SNAEIA, delivered a keynote report on “Model Innovation & the Development of Vocational Education Collaboration between China and North African Countries”, demonstrating the innovative models and achievement cases of different projects and providing feasible solutions and operational paths for domestic colleges to carry out international education cooperation with higher education institutions in North Africa and other countries.

Mr. Ma Jun, Deputy Director of International Cooperation and Exchange Department, Beijing Polytechnic, gave a speech titled “Typical Experience Explored and Successful Case Shared of the Innovative Models on Overseas Campus Establishment of Chinese Vocational College”, sharing the achievements and past experiences of the “Free University of Tunis -Beijing Polytechnic Technical Skills Training Base” established with the assistance of SNAEIA.

In the high-level dialogue segment, Mr. Hedi Belhaj Salah, President of Monastir University in Tunisia; Mr. Chen Bin, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President, Hunan Vocational College of Railway Technology; Mr. Mustapha Lkhider, Vice-President of University of Hassan II Casablanca; Mr. Qu Baozhong, Vice-President of Henan Polytechnic Institute; Ms. Houda Ben Mazouz, Regional Director of OFPPT, and Mr. Fan Yao, Vice-President of Yiwu Industrial & Commercial College, exchanged and shared ideas on “Development Trend and Cooperation Opportunities of Vocational Education Internationalization from the Perspective of Globalization”.

(All rankings above are in no particular order)

This Sino-North Africa International Education Innovation Cooperation Forum and Inaugural Meeting of the Chinese Council of the Sino-North Africa Education Innovation Association has received warm welcome and strong support from all participants. The establishment of SNAEIA China Council will build a more stable bridge for international education cooperation between China and North African countries. 

Host

  Mr. Fan Yao, Vice-President of Yiwu Industrial & Commercial College

  Dr. Chen Lu, Secretary General of SNAEIA

  Prof. Tian Ye, Ex-Dean of School of International Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University