On November 16, the Founding Ceremony of China-UK Vocational College, Shanghai Urban Construction College and the 2^nd International Cooperation Forum for Sino-UK Vocational Education were held at the Yangpu Campus of SUCC. The establishment of the College is a major event in the internationalization process of SUCC as well as a powerful measure to help Shanghai’s education internationalization.

Ms. Karen Sun (the Chief Representative of the Shanghai Office of Welsh Government), Mr. Steve Rhodes, (the Vice President of the Neath Port Talbot College [NPTC]), Mr. Huang Yahui, (the Chairman of the China-UK Vocational Education Cooperation Development Committee [CUKVECDC]), Ms. Jasmine Gong (staff of the China Office of the China-Britain Business Council [CBBC]), Mr. Darren Horne (a representatives from Centre of Excellence for British Vocational Education in China [CEBVEC]) and representatives from other domestic higher vocational colleges were invited to attend the Ceremony. Chu Min (the SUCC party committee), Ye Yinzhong (the president of SUCC), other relevant leaders, the directors of the secondary colleges and related functional departments, and student representatives attended the Ceremony. The Ceremony/Forum was presided over by the Vice President Guo Hongtao.

At the Forum, Ye Yinzhong has indicated that SUCC has been committed to cultivating high-quality technical and skilled talents with certain international vision. He has pointed out that the China-UK Vocational College of Excellence would be committed to establishing international standards for professional teaching, promoting international certification, and quickly building a team of teachers who are familiar with Chinese and British education systems and are in line with international standards. Students will acquire vocational certificates and diplomas approved by the UK education system and the international community after passing certain assessments and meeting English standards, and will become professional talents with international competitiveness. Relying on the advantages of SUCC and NPTC in the fields of construction engineering technologies, engineering cost, architectural design, computer, etc., the China-UK Vocational College of Excellence will be constructed into a multi-functional platform integrating joint program construction, teacher training, innovation of talent cultivation patterns and advancement of running schools in an international way. 

According to Steve Rhodes, the cooperation with SUCC is a beneficial attempt of going abroad for vocational education in the UK. Vocational education is an indispensable link in the cultivation of talents. The deep exchange and cooperation between the UK and China in vocational education will promote the further development of vocational education in both countries. It is hoped that the College of Excellence will accumulate more valuable experience in the China-UK cooperation in vocational education.

Secretary Chu Min read the list of the constitution of the China-UK Vocational College of Excellence and said that the establishment of the College signified a new starting point for talent cultivation in SUCC, a new journey would be started, and new achievements would be gained. The “Excellence” means new promotion and breakthrough concerning the quality of talent cultivation!

Subsequently, Ms. Karen Sun, Mr. Steve Rhodes, Mr. Chu Min, Mr. Ye Yinzhong and Mr. Huang Yahui unveiled the nameplate of the China-UK Vocational College of Excellence, marking the official establishment of the College.

After the founding ceremony of the China-UK Vocational College of Excellence, the 2^nd International Cooperation Forum for Sino-UK Vocational Education was held. The guests attending the Forum delivered speeches on the theme of Belt and Road Initiative and the British modern apprenticeship system, and shared excellent cases and practical achievements in the Belt and Road vocational education international cooperation, management of international students, the operation, development and cooperation in China-UK modern apprenticeship system. This Forum provided good opportunities for mutual learning and exchanges of the participating schools and especially for the expansion and deepening of China-UK cooperation and exchanges in vocational education.