Xianyang Polytechnic Institute has recently sent eight faculty members, including Feng Hua, Liu Yi, Han Xuzhao and etc., on state-sponsored study visits to three leading overseas institutions: Technische Universität Dresden in Germany, the University of Chester in the UK, and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. The visits, which range from three to six months, are funded by the China Scholarship Council.
Feng Hua, a professor and head of the college’s national-level innovative teaching teams for vocational education, took part in the fourth “Craftsmanship-Mentor” Innovative Team Overseas Study Program. Her research in Germany focused on the country’s education and vocational training systems, dual-track apprenticeship model, teacher development programs, quality assurance mechanisms, as well as teaching methodologies and educational technology.
Meanwhile, six other faculty members, including Liu Yi from the Medical School and Zhang Chuxin from the Primary Education School, participated in the Western Region Talent Development Sub-Program — “Enhancing the International Competence of Vocational College Teachers in Shaanxi Under the Double High-Level Initiative.” During their stay at the University of Chester, they attended courses such as Academic English and British Culture, Cross-cultural Experiential Learning, and Research Methods and Study Skills. They also took part in teaching activities at the Rainbow Chinese School and volunteered at the Chester Marathon. In addition, the group was invited to Chester City Hall, where they met the city’s mayor and shared insights into traditional Chinese festivals and intangible cultural heritage.
Han Xuzhao from the Electromechanical (Technician) College joined another sub-program under the Western Region Talent Development Initiative — the “Vocational School Smart Manufacturing Leadership Program.” He arrived at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore in early November. There, he will study subjects including Singapore’s Education System, AI in Teaching and Academic Quality Assurance, and Innovative Pedagogy and Technology-Enhanced Learning at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Study tours to CapitaLand and the Smart City Lab are also scheduled, offering him hands-on exposure to smart manufacturing applications in urban development and engineering. Han will also exchange ideas with industry experts on talent development standards and curriculum alignment with industrial needs.
Marking the college’s first successful implementation of a state-sponsored academic exchange program, the overseas studies represent a breakthrough in the college’s effort to internationalize vocational education. The initiative has not only provided instructors with a platform to engage with global educational practices and cutting-edge industry trends but also enhanced their teaching, research, and cross-cultural communication skills. These experiences have injected new international perspectives into the college’s “Double High-Level” development agenda. Moreover, through academic exchanges and cultural activities abroad, the faculty members have showcased the achievements of China’s vocational education while paving the way for future global partnerships and the internationalization of the college’s educational standards and resources.