IURC China Webinar: EU-China Cooperation in Education, Jobs & Skills – New Skills Agenda for Sustainability, Competitiveness, and Innovation
Webinar
BACKGROUND
Both the European Union and China are in a time of transition. The transition towards a green, circular, digital economy significantly changed the way we live and work. The distribution of smart technologies generated new jobs while some jobs have been changed or disappeared. The demographic change will draw on all diverse talents. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the digital transition and also considerably changed the career path of many people.
In July 2020, the European Commission published the Skills Agenda for Europe. The goal is to help individuals and businesses develop more and better skills and put them to use, by strengthening sustainable competitiveness, as set out in the European Green Deal, ensuring social fairness, and building resilience to react to crises, based on the lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic. Across the EU there are emerging needs for basic, digital, transversal, and entrepreneurial skills. Policies and action plans in education and training, especially vocational education and training (VET) and lifelong learning, have been in place at the national, regional and local levels.
Facing similar challenges in education and training of young talents, employable workforce and migrant workers, China has been emphasizing the role of education and training in ensuring the economic success of individuals and the whole country for decades. More recently, a series of strategies are in place to align vocational education with the needs of industry and strengthen the vocational pathway from school to work. In October 2021, the State Council issued the Opinions on Promoting the High-Quality Development of Modern Vocational Education. In 2022, the Law of the People's Republic of China on Vocational Education was passed and implemented for the first time after 26 years, underlining the role of VET in upskilling the labour market for industry upgrading and economic transition in China.
In the process of strengthening China´s vocational education and training system, the EU is an important partner. The IURC China thematic cluster working session aims to share how cities and regions achieve competitiveness and innovation, by enabling citizens through quality and inclusive education, training and lifelong learning to participate fully in society and manage successfully in the labour market transition. This webinar will focus on cooperation opportunities in research & development (universities and research labs), VET and life-long learning (training providers and businesses) and entrepreneurship and innovation (policymakers).
OBJECTIVES
Through deep multilateral discussion, this thematic webinar seeks to showcase challenges and solutions for developing quality and inclusive education, training and lifelong learning, enhancing sustainability, competitiveness, social fairness and resilience in IURC pilot cities & regions and provide them with a networking opportunity to:
- Share perspectives, policy initiatives, and best practices
- Identify potential common projects and relevant stakeholders to address the transition to a competitive, green, digital and resilient economy.
Participants
This webinar will take place among stakeholders from IURC China pilot cities and regions.