On February 5, 2026, Prof. Zhou Zuoyu, Director of the UNESCO International Research and Training Centre for Rural Education (INRULED), held an online working meeting upon invitation with Prof. Michael Philips, Professor at the University of Doha for Science and Technology and holder of the UNESCO Chair on TVET and Sustainable Development.

During the meeting, INRULED highlighted its collaborative projects and practical experiences in TVET, with a particular focus on serving rural transformation and sustainable development. The discussions covered topics such as the digital transformation of TVET, green skills development, and innovation and entrepreneurship education. Both sides explored the feasibility of extending INRULED's existing TVET programmes to the Middle East and had preliminary exchanges on potential future cooperation opportunities.