Chongqing - Building ties across ASEAN, Central Asia, Europe, and Africa, Chongqing Polytechnic University of Electronic Technology (CQUET) is leading the export of Chinese vocational education through hands-on training, industry collaboration, and cultural exchange.
At 7 a.m. on April 25, Zheng Xuena, a lecturer at CQUET, awoke to a series of WeChat messages from an LED display technician in Thailand seeking help with a controller configuration issue.
CQUET students participate in the International Invitational of Optoelectronic Technical Skills. (Photo/CQUET)
Earlier this month, Zheng and her colleague Wang Xin traveled to Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand, to deliver a five-day Nova NCE basic engineering course at the invitation of Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin. Before leaving, Zheng shared her WeChat contact with trainees, promising post-course support—a promise she continues to honor.
International engagement like this has become routine at CQUET. In recent years, the university has developed an international talent model that combines Chinese language, technical skills, and cultural communication. Through partnerships with overseas institutions, CQUET has trained over 600 students and hosted more than 920 international students, establishing a global network across ASEAN, Central Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Building a global reputation
At 10 a.m. on April 24, Li Xiaosong, a former WorldSkills champion, was mentoring six team members preparing for the upcoming National Skills Competition.
Li’s journey reflects CQUET’s excellence. In 2022, while still a student, he won China’s first gold medal in the Photonics Technology event at the WorldSkills Special Edition in Kyoto, Japan. After graduating in 2023, he joined CQUET as a lecturer and now serves as an assistant chief judge and national team coach.
Li Xiaosong wins the WorldSkills Competition championship. (Photo/CQUET)
Under his guidance, China secured another gold medal at the 47th WorldSkills Competition, further enhancing CQUET’s reputation. “Our WorldSkills success has become a ‘golden calling card’ for promoting vocational education abroad,” said Xing Kunlun, Vice President of CQUET.
Earlier this year, CQUET and its global partners launched the first-ever photonics training program in Barbados, a major milestone in technical cooperation. Sandra Husbands, Barbados’ Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training Ministry, said the program would not only drive economic diversification but also modernize the country’s vocational training system.
Industry-driven training
CQUET’s global success stems from aligning vocational training with industry needs both domestically and internationally.
In the past six months alone, its pace has been nonstop. In November 2024, CQUET sent four instructors to Kazakhstan to deliver intermediate technician training for Changan Auto dealers. In December, it signed a memorandum with the Indonesian Telematics Society to jointly train digital talent. In February 2025, it partnered with TÜV Rheinland to establish Sino-German AI Application and Cybersecurity Training Centers, aiming to cultivate 500 skilled professionals over a three-year period. In March, it welcomed 62 students from Singapore for IoT and electronics training programs.
During the Changan Auto intermediate technician training in Kazakhstan, trainees practice maintenance under the guidance of the CQUET instructor. (Photo/CQUET)
Delegations from Spain, Bolivia, the UK, Thailand, and Scotland have also visited CQUET to explore partnerships.
“Our collaborations now span ASEAN, Central Asia, Europe, and Africa,” said CQUET President Nie Qiang. “As Chinese enterprises expand abroad, we are aligning our training to both their needs and the industrial demands of our partner countries.”
Working closely with companies such as Changan Auto and ZTE, CQUET is helping to develop automotive trade networks in Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and South Africa, build smart communication platforms in Indonesia, and offer optoelectronics training in Jamaica and Thailand. It has also partnered with Huawei to establish overseas vocational schools supporting agriculture and AI development.
Shaping global vocational education standards
CQUET’s international expansion is part of Chongqing’s broader push to globalize vocational training under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Since the initiative’s launch, Chongqing has spearheaded several international vocational education alliances, covering 451 institutions across Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
One example is the China-Africa (Chongqing) Vocational Education Alliance, which has been led by CQUET since 2021. The alliance now comprises 75 member institutions, has established a Sino-African Vocational Cooperation Center, released 20 joint research projects, hosted five vocational dialogue forums, and developed a guide for overseas operations. It has also launched 33 bilingual courses, now available internationally.
“Through these alliances, we’re not just exporting training — we’re helping shape global vocational education standards with ‘Chongqing Wisdom, ’” said Nie.
The CQUET instructor delivers a lecture on smart connected vehicle technology to international trainees. (Photo/CQUET)
Thanks to these efforts, CQUET and other Chongqing institutions have launched six overseas campuses and training centers across Africa, producing over 3,200 skilled graduates and building a strong foundation for deeper Sino-African cooperation.
Chongqing’s Municipal Education Commission plans to align vocational education with modern industrial clusters, expand cross-border resource integration, and support the growth of high-quality programs abroad, ensuring that “wherever Chinese enterprises go, Chongqing’s vocational education follows.”
(Li Zhifeng, a reporter from Chongqing Daily, and Wang Wenwen, an intern from Chongqing Daily, contributed to this report's Chinese version.)