The Jiangsu Vocational Institute of Architectural Technology in Xuzhou. [Photo/Jiangsu Vocational Institute of Architectural Technology]

The Jiangsu Vocational Institute of Architectural Technology is accelerating the internationalization of vocational education by shifting from project-based cooperation to the export of education systems, guided by its mission to boost international production capacity and cultivate overseas technical professionals.

The institute has taken an active role in major international events such as the Asia Education Forum, the China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week and the World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference. Through these engagements, it has showcased its educational achievements, gained insight into global trends and significantly enhanced its influence and resource integration capacity in the international arena.

The institute has hosted 466 visitors from countries and regions like the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia and ASEAN members, while sending 96 delegations consisting of 826 people for exchanges, training and promotional activities overseas.

It has established partnerships with nearly 60 higher education institutions worldwide and launched substantive joint education programs with well-known colleges such as North Sydney Institute of TAFE in Australia, Humber Polytechnic in Canada, and Novosibirsk State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering in Russia.

To better serve enterprises' international expansion, the institute has moved its educational presence closer to overseas markets. It has set up five branch schools, two skills and language training centers and two Zheng He Colleges in countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. To date, it has educated 1,503 long- and short-term international students from 18 countries and exported 22 vocational standards.

Faculty development has also been strengthened as a way to share China's approach to vocational education. Since 2018, the institute has undertaken multiple teacher training programs commissioned by foreign education ministries and partner institutions, covering areas such as school leadership, textile and apparel, STEM education, information technology and Confucius Classroom programs. In addition, 25 teachers have been dispatched to countries such as Laos and Thailand to provide on-site teaching support.