Malaysia, May 28, 2025 -- With the global outreach of the UNESCO Chair on Digitalization in TVET, Shenzhen Polytechnic University (SZPU) inaugurated the“China–ASEAN TVET Digital Capacity Building Centre”in collaboration with Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) in Malaysia. The Centre is designed as a platform for digital capacity building for TVET institutions and applied technology universities across East and Southeast Asia.
To facilitate the Centre’s establishment, SZPU dispatched a delegation led by YANG Congkun, coordinator of the UNESCO Chair on Digitalization in TVET, with team members ZENG Xiuzhen, ZHONG Zhuoya (the UNESCO Chair on Digitalization in TVET), QU Haizhou (School of ICT), and WU Qingtian (School of AI) to attend the Centre’s launch ceremony and co-organize the TVET Digital Capacity Building Workshop at UTHM.
Official Launch Ceremony of the Centre on DOTS 2025
On May 28, the SZPU delegation attended the Global Digital TVET Transformation Summit (DOTS) 2025, integrated with “Bridging Innovation and Learning in TVET (BILT)” Bridging Event, co-hosted by UNESCO-UNEVOC and UTHM in Kuala Lumpur. The summit focused on how digital technologies are reshaping TVET teaching and learning, and brought together senior representatives from UNESCO-UNEVOC, BIBB, and other global institutions.
At the summit, Dr. YANG Congkun, representing the UNESCO Chair on Digitalization in TVET, delivered a keynote speech titled “Digital Transformation in Global TVET towards the Intelligent Age.” He elaborated on the profound impact of the transition from the digital to intelligent economy on TVET and proposed strategic pathways for TVET institutions to adapt to the intelligent era. During the event, SZPU and UTHM officially exchanged the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the “China–ASEAN TVET Digital Capacity Building Centre” and held a grand launch ceremony, marking the successful establishment of the first such Centre in the ASEAN region.
Inaugural Training Workshop Held at UTHM
On May 29, the Centre’s inauguration event — the “TVET Digital Capacity Building Workshop” co-organized by the UNESCO Chair on Digitalization in TVET at SZPU and Centre for Virtual Learning at UTHM— was successfully conducted at UTHM. Prof. Dr. XU Jianling, President of SZPU, delivered a video speech emphasizing that TVET is at a critical juncture of digital transformation. He shared SZPU’s long-standing practices in building intelligent learning platforms and promoting digital teaching support systems. He stressed that this workshop marks an important step in advancing regional cooperation in TVET digitalization. Then Prof. Dr. SHAHRUDDIN BIN MAHZAN@MOHD ZIN, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) of UTHM, delivered welcome remarks. In the following, Dr. YANG Congkun outlined the objectives and work plan of the “China–ASEAN TVET Digital Capacity Building Centre.”
In the training session, Dr. ZENG Xiuzhen shared strategies for digital curriculum design in TVET. Dr. WU Qingtian provided an in-depth analysis of educational technologies developed using large language models, with Dr. QU Haizhou discussing applications of deep learning in both academic and industrial contexts. A panel session moderated by Ms. ZHONG Zhuoya facilitated active interaction between these three training experts and participants, on which all explored challenges and pathways for TVET digital transformation.
The workshop attracted 73 onsite participants from 10 applied universities and vocational colleges, and 121 international attendees joined online via Zoom. The event was also livestreamed on UTHM’s official video platform, with 348 views recorded to date.
Visit to the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education
The SZPU delegation also met with the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education. The meeting was chaired by Dr Riam a/p Chai Mai, Director of Industry and Community Collaboration Division, carrying the duties of Deputy Director General of Governance, with participation from six other officials.
Dr. YANG Congkun reviewed the ongoing collaboration between the two parties and expressed strong interest in revitalizing international cooperation in TVET, particularly in digitalization. Ms. ZHONG Zhuoya reported on the progress of the UNESCO Chair and the vision for developing the China–ASEAN Centre under its framework. Delegation members discussed future collaborations in co-developing digital curricula and strengthening teacher capabilities, securing policy support for the Centre and aligning it with Malaysia’s national education strategies.
This visit to Malaysia achieved remarkable outcomes by successfully launching the “China–ASEAN TVET Digital Capacity Centre.” The inauguration workshop laid a solid foundation for the continued co-development of the Centre, contributing meaningfully to sustainable development of regional TVET systems. Looking ahead, the Centre will focus on ASEAN’s emerging digital sectors such as ICT and advanced manufacturing. With the support of the UNESCO Chair on Digitalization in TVET, the Centre will develop and disseminate a wide range of digital transformation knowledge products — including teacher training packages, curriculum and program syllabuses, and practical guidebooks, and also provide digital capacity building for TVET leadership and teachers. These initiatives aim to build a comprehensive digital cooperation network covering ASEAN and radiating across Asia, ultimately promoting TVET resource sharing and narrowing the global digital divide for sustainable development.
(Opening remarks by Prof. XU Jiannling, President of SZPU, at the inauguration
of the “China–ASEAN TVET Digital Capacity Building Centre”)
(Exchange of MoA between SZPU and UTHM)
(Official launch of the “China–ASEAN TVET Digital Capacity Building Centre”)
(Panel session on the “TVET Digital Capacity Building Workshop”)
(Group photo of the “TVET Digital Capacity Building Workshop”)
