On September 30, Prof. Zhou Zuoyu, Director of the UNESCO International Research and Training Centre for Rural Education (INRULED), held an online meeting with Prof. Michael Philips, Professor at Qatar University of Doha for Science and Technology and holder of UNESCO Chair on TVET and Sustainable Development. The discussion focused on strategies to ensure that technical and vocational education and training (TVET) systems remain forward-looking and adaptable amid global economic and technological shifts.

During the meeting, Prof. Michael Philips shared Qatar University of Doha for Science and Technology’s experiences in leveraging both formal and vocational education to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. He highlighted the university’s initiatives in curriculum design, school–enterprise collaboration, and the cultivation of core competencies for sustainable development. Prof. Zhou Zuoyu emphasized the integration of STEM and traditional vocational education, developing STEM-oriented technical education and training, establishing innovation-driven platforms linking industry, academia, research, and application, and building AI-supported talent development models to cultivate highly skilled professionals empowered by artificial intelligence. He also noted that INRULED will continue to leverage its expertise and global network in rural and vocational education to drive innovation in the field.

Both sides agreed that the meeting laid a solid foundation for further strengthening their educational partnership. Looking ahead, they plan to deepen cooperation in areas such as TVET quality standards, teacher development, and student employability, jointly addressing the challenges of vocational education internationalization while promoting sustainable innovation and high-quality development worldwide.