On 20 May 2023, UNESCO Multi-sectoral Regional Office in Beijing partnered with the China Adult Education Association (CAEA) and Tianjin City Vocational College to successfully organize a meeting on lifelong learning in the urban CLCs. Over 50 participants attended the conference organized under the theme “Lifelong Learning in Vocational Colleges and Vocational Education Groups”.
The UNESCO Beijing Office and CAEA are strongly committed to build capacity and promote lifelong learning in all CLCs, Vocational colleges and education institutions to nurture a culture of lifelong learning aligned with Chinese Ministry of Education’s 2035 Education Modernization Strategy to institutionalize lifelong at informal, non-formal and formal levels of the education system. The meeting in Tianjin also invited the vocational colleges and education centers around China specifically from five different provinces and municipalities, including Tianjin, Guangdong, Sichuan, Jilin and Hebei, Tianjin City Vocational College who presented an update of the progress made in the implementation of CLC projects within the framework of the Urban CLC project on “Practice and Research on Lifelong Learning in Vocational Colleges and Vocational Education Groups” (CLC-CVGL). The main objective of the meeting was to enhance the skills, knowledge and capacity of the participating colleges to promote quality lifelong learning education in technical and vocational colleges.
Meeting held in Tianjin on 20 May 2023
Among the participants who attended the meeting, were Mr. Robert Parua, Education Programme Specialist of UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office in Beijing, Ms. Bao Huaying, Deputy Director of CAEA and Urban CLC Project Manager, Mr. Zhou Yanjun, Deputy Secretary-General of CAEA and Deputy Head of the Urban CLC Project Experts Team, Mr. Luo Yan An, Deputy Director of the Tianjin Municipal Education Commission, and Ms. Li Xiaoxia, Deputy Mayor of the Hebei District People’s Government of Tianjin Municipality. Representatives from research centers, vocational colleges and vocational education groups also actively participated in the meeting.
Awards given to some of the Representatives of the Urban CLCs
During the meeting, Mr. Luo Yan An, Deputy Director of the Tianjin Municipal Education Commission, delivered his speech on the contribution and progress made by Tianjin city in the field of vocational education. He highlighted the City Government’s strong commitment and support for the project on “Practice and Research on Lifelong Learning in Vocational Colleges and Vocational Education Groups” (CLC-CVGL). He firmly believes in the successful implementation of the project will play an important role in impacting and advancing lifelong learning education and in integrating a solid lifelong learning service system in Tianjin, while promoting the development of Tianjin as a learning city.
Mr. Luo Yan An delivering his speech
Ms. Li Xiaoxia, Deputy Mayor of the Hebei District People’s Government of Tianjin Municipality, addressed in her speech the significance of the project for the Hebei District. Ms Xiaoxia reiterated the District Government’s strong support and commitment to quality education and lifelong learning in Tianjin City.
Ms. Li Xiaoxia delivering her speech
Mr. Robert Parua, Education Programme Specialist of UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office in Beijing, presented on China’s presented on UNESCO’s background and global framework on lifelong learning and alignment to SDGs, and SDG4 as well as the core areas of UNESCO CONFITEA VII 2022 Marrakech Framework for Action on Adult Education and Lifelong Learning. The Marrakech Framework for Action puts emphasis on the importance of adult education and skills development and the need to ensure quality of programmes, the need to focus on inequity, access and inclusion dimensions of adult education and lifelong education.
Mr. Robert Parua delivering his presentation
Ms. Bao Huaying, Deputy Director of CAEA and Urban CLC Project Manager, and Mr. Zhou Yanjun, Deputy Secretary-General of CAEA and Deputy Head of the Urban CLC Project Experts Team, both reiterated on the expected outcomes of the Urban CLC Capacity Building Project of the China Adult Education Association in partnership with the UNESCO Beijing Multi-Sectoral Office and implementation progress made in promoting life-long learning cities in China.
Ms. Bao Huaying delivering her speech
Mr. Zhou Yanjun delivering his presentation
The successful meeting was followed by an on-site visit to lifelong learning Centres in Tianjin and visit to to the Liang Qichao Museum, the Future Community in Jintingli at Wanghailou Street and the University for the Aged of Hebei District.
More to read:
Making lifelong learning a reality: a handbook
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000381857
UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning
https://uil.unesco.org/
Marrakech Framework for Action
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000382306
