On October 31, 2023, the opening ceremony of the finals of the China division of the 2023 North African International Vocational Education Digitalization Summit Forum and the first North African International Vocational Education Digital Innovation Skills Competition was held at our school. Mohamed Knidiri, former Minister of Education in Morocco, Mohamed Barkawi, Chairman of the North African International Education Innovation Alliance, Chen Lu, Secretary-General of the North African International Education Innovation Alliance, Ghita Zaroual, Regional Cooperation Director of Morocco's Vocational Education and Employment Development Office, Salahu Bsbia, Director of International Cooperation at Tunisia's Esprit Education Group, Fan Yao, member of the Party Committee and Deputy Dean of Yiwu Industrial & Commercial College, He Yong, Executive Dean of the Beijing Enterprise Learning Research Education Technology Institute, Isam Ezzahi of the Chouaib Doukkali University in Morocco, Borhen Louchichi, Professor of the Higher Institute of Applied Science and Technology in Tunisia, Zou Yimin, Director of the E-Commerce Research and Development Center at Zhejiang Normal University, Pan Changchun, Deputy Director of the Intelligent Manufacturing Virtual Simulation Research Center at Zhejiang University, and Cheng Lusha, Associate Professor at Shenzhen Polytechnic University, attended the event online or in person. The leaders of our school's international cooperation department and entrepreneurship school, as well as cross-border e-commerce professionals and more than 800 teachers, students, and representatives from about 390 teams from home and abroad participated in the event.
In the first phase, the 2023 North African International Vocational Education Digitalization Summit Forum was presided over by the head of the entrepreneurship school.
During the ceremony, Fan Yao delivered a welcome speech, expressing gratitude towards the leaders, guests, and participants of the opening ceremony. He introduced the school's unique approach to education and international achievements, emphasizing that the summit and competition were created in the context of digital development, seeking to promote international cooperation in vocational education digital innovation and facilitate international experience exchange in regards to digital development and vocational skills training. As the host school, we will take a rigorous, professional, and pragmatic approach to provide comprehensive services and support.
Mohamed Knidiri believed that the first North African Vocational Education Digital Innovation Skills Competition in 2023 was a platform dedicated to fostering innovation, professionalism, and collaboration, encouraging all participants to strive to become ambassadors for skill development in their respective regions and help build the digital society of the future.
Mohammed Barkavi hopes to further expand the influence of the International Vocational Education Digital Innovation Skills Competition in Central and North Africa in the future, to involve more institutions, students, and educators, and to generate a broader impact. He also aims to continue promoting the development of digital skills in vocational education, and jointly ensure the leading position of vocational education in the digital era in the Central and North African region.
Ghita Zaroual points out that vocational education is the pillar of a prosperous society, and integrating digital tools and innovative educational methods into vocational training is of utmost importance. China and the North African region have rich cultural diversity and are cradles for talent and innovation. Through the opportunities provided by digital education, the potential of young people can be unleashed to make more meaningful contributions to industry development.
Salah Busbia expresses deep gratitude to the organizers, mentors, and educators of the competition. He encourages participants to view this competition as a journey of learning, growth, and innovation. He also sees this as an opportunity to bridge the geographical and cultural gaps between China and North Africa, promote cross-cultural understanding and cooperation, and unite global citizens.
The teams representing China, Tunisia, and Morocco introduced themselves and shared their insights and gains from participating in the competition through videos, showcasing their team spirit.
During the summit forum, Cheng Lusha gave a speech on "The Development and Application Prospect of Domestic Additive Manufacturing Technology," Pan Changchun focused on "The Development and Application of Virtual Reality Technology in China," Zou Yimin discussed "The Digital Talent Cultivation for Cross-Border E-commerce," and Issam Az-Zahid spoke about "The Development of E-commerce in Morocco."
The second phase of the opening ceremony of the 2023 First Central and North Africa International Vocational Education Digital Innovation Skills Competition China Regional Finals was presided over by Li Ang, Vice President of Beijing Qixueyan Educational Science and Technology Research Institute.
At the opening ceremony, He Yong, on behalf of the competition organizing committee, congratulated the successful opening of the competition and expressed gratitude to all levels of units involved in the preparation and support of the competition. He stated that the opening ceremony of the 2023 First Central and North Africa International Vocational Education Digital Innovation Skills Competition China Regional Finals and the Chinese finals of the cross-border e-commerce business are concrete practices to implement the "China-Africa Dialogue" on talent development. By holding international skills competitions, it reflects the best international practices described by world skill standards, leads the direction of professional and technical talent training, and college professional transformation and upgrading, and promotes the transformation of competition outcomes and cooperation between industry, academia, research, and application.
It is reported that the Central and North Africa International Vocational Education Digital Innovation Skills Competition includes three events: additive manufacturing, virtual reality, and cross-border e-commerce. Our school hosted the final of the first Central and North Africa International Vocational Education Digital Innovation Skills Competition China Regional Finals for cross-border e-commerce. It will last for two days and will cover five major sections, including on-site marketing for merchants and platform advertising. It comprehensively examines the practical skills, business sensitivity, and market insights of participants in cross-border e-commerce. The successful launch of the first Central and North Africa International Vocational Education Digital Innovation Skills Competition will play a positive role in promoting digital innovation in vocational education in China and North African countries, cultivating more innovative professionals in various fields, and promoting international education exchanges and cooperation.
