Building a Solid Platform for International Education Exchange and Cooperation |The Sino-North Africa Education Innovation Association and Five Schools Visit Tunisia and Morocco

To actively participate in the construction of the China-Africa community of shared destiny, further serve the national "Belt and Road" initiative, and promote the global development of various schools, from October 28 to November 3, 2023, the Sino-North Africa Education Innovation Association (SNAEIA) and a delegation of 16 leaders from five schools, including Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, Hunan Railway Polytechnic, Zhejiang Economic Polytechnic, and Caofeidian Polytechnic College, visited Morocco and Tunisia to attend international education exhibitions and conduct official visits.

On October 28, the SNAEIA and the delegation were invited to attend a seminar on international cooperation in higher education in Morocco, held at the University of Mondeapolis in Casablanca, Morocco. The presidents of Mondeapolis University, Hassan II University, and Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University from Morocco were present. Representatives from both Chinese and Moroccan universities introduced their respective institutions, including their establishment, academic specialties, faculty strengths, and internationalization efforts.

On October 29, the SNAEIA and the delegation visited the international education exhibition in Morocco. This exhibition is Morocco's largest education fair, with over 4,000 participants in previous years. The SNAEIA selected this major international education fair to help the participating universities explore the market for North African students coming to China to study. The event was well attended and drew enthusiastic students eager to learn about studying in China. Many Moroccan students with excellent overall qualifications expressed enthusiasm and interest in studying in China.

On October 31, the Association and the delegation traveled to Tunisia to attend an international education exhibition. This exhibition attracted more than a thousand Tunisian students and parents. Representatives from the universities in the delegation patiently introduced their respective universities' enrollment policies for international students, unique academic programs, scholarship policies, and answered questions from students and parents. These events were successful in promoting the visibility and reputation of the participating universities and attracting Moroccan and Tunisian students to study in China.

On November 1, the delegation visited ESPRIT University in Tunisia and participated in a seminar on international cooperation in higher education. Representatives from Sousse University, ESPRIT private engineering and technology school, SESAME University, and ESPRIM private engineering school were present. Each university representative introduced their respective institutions, including their establishment, academic specialties, faculty strengths, and internationalization efforts. They also engaged in in-depth discussions on potential cooperative programs, including joint academic programs and short-term training. A representative from Zhejiang Economic Polytechnic shared their experience in industry-academia collaboration.

During the visit, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University visited UPSAT University, summarizing the achievements of their cooperation from the previous year and discussing future collaboration. They also met with students participating in the 3+1 nursing program. Additionally, they visited Central University of Tunisia, where discussions included teacher exchanges, sending teachers abroad, and short-term training, among other future collaborative plans. They later unveiled the plaque of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University's Tunisian branch and met with students majoring in nursing and rehabilitation. The delegation then visited a traditional Chinese medicine clinic established by Tunisian alumni of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University in Sousse.

On November 2, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University conducted two academic lectures at Central University of Tunisia, covering topics on traditional Chinese medicine and cross-cultural exchange. They also held a promotional event for admissions. The lectures and events were attended by the CEO of Central University of Tunisia, Houbeb Ajimi, the dean of the College of Health Sciences, Wafa Chouadi, and many other university leaders and students.

The Sino-North Africa Education Innovation Association (SNAEIA), as a solid platform for vocational education and higher education "going abroad," is dedicated to enhancing global education and cooperation. In the future, the platform will leverage its resources to collaborate in talent development, facilitate educational exchanges and cooperation, and promote in-depth industry-academia collaboration. SNAEIA will actively engage in various forms of Sino-foreign cooperative education to broaden international education horizons and realize shared resource development. This collaboration aims to foster the globalization of vocational and higher education and contribute to the construction of an international community for educational cooperation and shared destiny.