25 July 2011

The Australian and Chinese governments strengthened their understanding of vocational education and training (VET) systems in each country during a visit by five VET officials from China to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) on Friday 15 July.

The Chinese officials were visiting Australia and New Zealand to learn about VET systems as China looks to modernise its own VET system. They were led by Mr Liu Jiantong, Deputy Director-General, Vocational and Adult Education Department, Chinese Ministry of Education, who has visited Australia before and expressed strong support for continued cooperation between Australia and China on VET matters.

Ms Jan Febey, Branch Manager, Trades Recognition Australia, Mr Jason Coutts, Branch Manager, International Cooperation Branch and colleagues met the delegation to exchange perspectives and learn from each other about vocational education systems in Australia and China.

The group also discussed Australia and China’s rich history of cooperation on vocational education – a milestone of which was the Australia China Chongqing Vocational Education and Training Project. VET centres established during the project have been used as models of best practice throughout China and regularly receive awards for VET excellence.

Vocational education is a key pillar of the Joint Work Plan signed by DEEWR and the Chinese Ministry of Education in May 2011. The plan features a commitment to support prestigious VET leadership programs between Australia and China and a joint Skills for Sustainability Conference to be held in Beijing next year.

The visit by the Chinese officials made an important contribution to another key item on the Joint Work Plan – to share reforms and best practice in VET policy between Australia and China.

Ms Jan Febey, Branch Manager, Trades Recognition Australia (second from right), Ms Karen Welsh, Director, International Cooperation Branch (fourth from left) and Mr Liu Jiantong, Deputy Director-General, Vocational and Adult Education Department, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China (fifth from left) with Australian and Chinese colleagues at DEEWR.