From June 8 to 12, 2025, the “China-Laos Vocational Education Cooperation and Exchange Series,” hosted by Shanghai College of Science and Technology, was successfully held in Vientiane, Laos. The event included the inauguration of the Overseas College in Vientiane, the export of professional and curriculum standards, and the launch of the first “Chinese Language + Vocational Skills” training program—marking a major milestone in the college’s journey of taking vocational education global.
The formal establishment of the Overseas College in Vientiane signifies a key step in the college’s international education efforts. Jointly built by the college and the Yunnan Chamber of Commerce in Laos, the institution aims to cultivate highly skilled talent for Laos, serving the development of the China-Laos Economic Corridor.
On the inauguration day, a delegation from the college—led by Vice Party Secretary and Executive Vice President Xu Jinru, along with Office Director Shen Bin, Vice Dean of the School of Communication and Electronic Engineering Xu Pai, Vice Dean of the School of Business Management Li Liqun, Director of E-commerce and Livestreaming Wang Yunshi, and Head of the Academic Affairs Division of the International Education College Wang Fan—held discussions with representatives from the Yunnan Chamber of Commerce in Laos. The two sides engaged in in-depth conversations on local Chinese enterprises’ talent needs, talent development models, and in-depth school-enterprise cooperation.
Vice President Xu emphasized that the establishment of the overseas college is a key move in response to the Belt and Road Initiative. The college will leverage its educational resources to provide strong talent support and technical services for Chinese enterprises in Laos. The Chamber of Commerce praised the college’s educational achievements and expressed strong expectations for mutual benefits through cooperation. Following the discussion, the Chamber officially received the college’s professional and curriculum standards and signed a school-enterprise cooperation agreement, laying a solid foundation for future collaboration.
During the four-day “Chinese Language + Vocational Skills” training program, the teaching team delivered systematic, practice-oriented courses. The training began with cultural integration, using Chinese cultural creative paper-cutting from the Forbidden City as a case study, engaging students in traditional crafts like paper-cutting and scratch painting to immerse them in Chinese heritage.
Modern marketing modules covered topics such as community marketing and customer relationship management, supplemented with hands-on training in short video production and livestream e-commerce. The course on “China’s AI Development and Security Technology Applications” explored cutting-edge applications like intelligent surveillance and facial recognition, broadening participants’ understanding of how technology empowers safety management.
The training innovatively combined Chinese language instruction with practical vocational skills, deeply integrating cultural understanding with real-world business scenarios. Students were highly engaged, enthusiastically participating in interactive sessions and hands-on practices.
On June 12, the first training session at the Overseas College in Vientiane concluded successfully. During the final assessment, trainees showcased their newly acquired skills—from creative short video planning to smooth mock livestreams—demonstrating their transformation. “These skills are so practical—I can use them right away!” said one excited trainee, eyes gleaming with anticipation for the future.
After the assessments, qualified students received official vocational skill certificates. A heartfelt farewell ceremony followed, filled with gratitude and joy. Students wrote messages like “Thank you, teacher” and “Long live China-Laos friendship” to express their appreciation. As the final student offered a warm hug to the instructors, tears and laughter mingled, and phrases like “Sabaidee” and “Zàijiàn” (goodbye) echoed in the classroom—marking a deeply emotional moment of cross-border friendship and educational exchange.
This initiative received strong support from the Laotian education authorities, the Yunnan Chamber of Commerce, and Chinese enterprises operating in Laos, building a new platform for the college’s global engagement. The successful launch of the first “Chinese + Vocational Skills” training class signifies the beginning of full-scale operations at the Laos overseas campus. Looking forward, the college will continue deepening educational cooperation with Laos, developing more tailored training programs based on local needs, and contributing robust educational momentum to the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future.
