Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng, and the accompanying ministry delegation, visited Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute (SXPI) on Friday, August 12, 2022. This visit provided Minister Huai with an overview of current SXPI-industry initiatives in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

Minister Huai accompanied by Vice governor of Shaanxi Province Fang Guanghua 

visited SXPI

Minister Huai first toured the Intelligent Manufacturing Collaborative Innovation Center. During the tour, he was briefed on the history and structure of the center, the key research areas and how the center aligned with the future vision and mission of SXPI. He also visited the practical learning spaces, including the robotic production line, equipment maker-space environments, digital process simulations and the learning-doing-innovation workshop.

Minister Huai congratulated the center's staff for encouraging and cultivating students' innovative and entrepreneurial spirit and the multiple teaching methods they were utilizing in practical training environments. He spoke highly of the center's underlying structured training approach that progressed learners through - basic knowledge training programs, comprehensive simulation training cases and innovative hands-on projects.

Minister Huai spoke highly of the integrated education mode of "learning, doing and creating" in SXPI

Minister Huai commended the high level of SXPI–industry engagement. He hoped this collaboration would continue to grow so that SXPI graduates would not only to meet the general skills demanded by the marketplace but, in co-operation with industrial enterprises, provide industry aligned co-constructed training programs and assessments. He encouraged the center to build upon the synergies within the education-industry group to explore the cross integration of specialties, combining design, research and production, educational and industry approaches to develop and cultivate knowledgeable, highly skilled and creative graduates.

Minister Huai's second visit was to the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Engineering Center established by SXPI and Beijing Jingdiao Group. At the center, SXPI President, Liu Yongliang, provided Minister Huai and his delegation with a detailed overview of the past, present, and future direction for SXPI in general and the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Engineering Center specifically. Minister Huai was pleased that SXPI was “integrating the training of identified and validated industrial talents into the center's teaching and learning programs”.

He encouraged the center to look to the future and identify changes in global manufacturing practices and the changing knowledge, skills and attitudes these changes would demand. He also encouraged the center staff to be flexible, constantly adjusting the programs they offer and applying advanced equipment operating skills in practical settings. This would make TVET more relevant to learners, allowing them access high-end facilities dynamically and ensuring them have broader choices of employment after their three years of study at SXPI. He congratulated the center for building the long-term industrial development experience of China and expected the center to better meet the future international trends in manufacturing technology and industrial machinery.

Minister Huai and the delegation listened to the special report on the development and construction of SXPI

Minister Huai fully affirmed the production-education integration model of SXPI

Minister Huai andthe delegationappreciated the student's work "Instrument on the Nib"

Then, Minister Huai delegation visited the 5G+ Intelligent Molding Training Base. Minister Huai was provided an overview of the innovative Precision Casting Training Center, a co-constructed learning space initiated by SXPI and Ningxia. He was also taken on a tour of the advanced training spaces encompassing 5G+, 3D printing, intelligent control and other innovative technologies. The delegation was able to inspect the learning tools, equipment and products used in the center, such as welding, molds, additives, titanium aluminum alloy, precision casting, flexible glass and other innovative products.

Again, Minister Huai was impressed by the benefits, demonstrated by SXPI, from the integration of industry and educational partners in the provision of TVET. “Schools and enterprises need to keep in pace with each other in technology and equipment. Firstly, the equipment of the training base should be able to be applied to the actual production line. Secondly, the technology learned by students must be consistent with the most advanced technology used by industry.” He commented.

Minister Huai made AR connection at the 5G+ Intelligent Molding Control Center

Minister Huai inspected the intelligent casting production process supported by sand mold 3D printing

Minister Huai inspected the flexible glass technology transformation project

Minister Huai completed his visit with the following observation, “China is attaching great importance to vocational education at the present. TVET is seen as a foundation stone for the future growth of the country. This means TVET institutions have a positive future. However, TVET institutions cannot be idle, they must take a firm grasp this historical opportunity. They must implement an innovation-driven strategy, promote deeper coordination, collaboration and integration of industry and formal qualifications, and then we can accelerate the construction of a modern TVET education system.”