Attendees exchange ideas on the scene. (PHOTO: Sheng Qiuling)

By GUO Guozhong & CHEN Chunyou

South Africa is an important cooperative partner of China in Africa. How can China and South Africa seize the opportunity of bilateral cooperation in the new era? What can both sides do to further integrate advantageous resources and unleash the benefits of synergies? The cooperation in vocational education may provide answers to these questions.

The 2021 Annual Conference of China & Africa (South Africa) Technical and Vocational Education Cooperation Alliance (CASATVECA) and Education and Industry Integration Seminar was held in Changzhou, Jiangsu province from December 13-15, 2021.

In order to promote the pragmatic development of vocational education with South Africa and other African countries, strengthen the integration of industries and education, and promote the joint "going global" of Chinese vocational colleges and enterprises, CASATVECA was launched in Changzhou in January 2018, by the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange (CCIPE) under the Ministry of Education and the Industrial and Manufacturing Training Authority under the Department of Higher Education and Training of South Africa.

At present, there are 108 Chinese members and 37 South African members in the alliance. In the past three years, with the support and joint efforts of the alliance members, the number of colleges and enterprises served by the alliance has continued to grow, and the brand influences and social effects have witnessed a steady increase. The overseas education projects were initiated by the member colleges, creating a new model for talent cultivation and collaborative innovation.

Du Kewei, the director general of CCIPE, said that the alliance has played its role in promoting China-Africa educational cooperation and cultural exchanges, nurturing South African technical personnel and better serving the building of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Against the backdrop of the global pandemic, in which South Africa is deeply affected, the China-Africa vocational education cooperation is conducive to maintaining fruitful results achieved by China and South Africa and exploring new prospects in a changing situation, which also demonstrates China's commitment to its mission, said Li Xudong, counselor in charge of education  at the Chinese Embassy in South Africa.

It is hoped that the alliance can deeply implement the principles of the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and pool the skills in areas such as the training of high-level technical personnel and the integration of industry and education, helping achieve common progress of the two countries in the post-COVID-19 era, said Li.