In recent years, Xinjiang has seized the opportunity presented by the construction of the "Belt and Road" core area and the development of the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone. It has strengthened and jointly built vocational education with "Belt and Road" countries, particularly those in Central Asia, thereby promoting international exchange and cooperation in vocational education to enhance quality and efficiency. Xinjiang is striving to write a new chapter in the opening up of vocational education within the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt in the new era.

Building a Silk Road Bridge with Vocational Education as the Link

Relying on the geographical advantages of neighboring Central Asia and West Asia, Xinjiang's vocational education relies on the support of major national projects, exports China's high-quality vocational education resources to the countries and regions jointly building the "the Belt and Road", and steadily promotes the construction of vocational college campuses or overseas education bases.

Xinjiang Applied Vocational and Technical College innovatively adopts the "school-enterprise" cooperation model, jointly establishing the "Jingshi School" teaching base with Beijing Huasheng Jingshi Information Technology Co., Ltd. and Kazakhstan International University of Engineering and Technology, which has been approved by the Ministry of Education for the "Humanities Exchange Jingshi Project". This project accurately meets the requirements and actively builds an international standard system. The project team conducted in-depth research on the current development status of the mechanical manufacturing industry in Kazakhstan and the professional needs of universities. Based on the regional economic characteristics and the experience of talent cultivation in the college, they developed and output targeted curriculum standards and professional teaching standards that are in line with local realities.

At the same time, the project focuses on strengthening resource support and striving to build a digital sharing platform. At present, the international online resource library of the project has been completed, bilingual teaching resources and digital course resources have been officially launched, attracting over a thousand visits and a total learning time of over 1500 hours, providing a high-quality and efficient cross-border learning platform for teachers and students from China and Kazakhstan.

Taking the construction of the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt as the engine, the local government actively supports the deepening and implementation of education cooperation between China and Kazakhstan through skills training, technical services, and cultural exchanges.

In June 2025, 14 teachers and students from Atyrau Oil and Gas University of Kazakhstan visited Karamay Vocational and Technical College for a ten-day research exchange. During their visit, students engaged in practical exercises such as handling drilling accidents at the virtual simulation training base and collaborated with college teachers on skill training. Concurrently, the visiting teachers and students experienced in-depth cultural exchange by participating in traditional Chinese cultural activities like paper cutting and lacquer fan making. The study tour also included field geological exploration and on-site industry teaching, from the geological wonders of Devil's City to oil industry sites, allowing students to personally experience the integration of theory and practice. The exchange encompassed various professional fields, including drilling, storage, and transportation. Through the "technical training + cultural experience + field teaching" integration model, it effectively promoted skill development and people-to-people exchanges between Chinese and Kazakh teachers and students, serving as a concrete example of people-to-people exchanges and technical cooperation within the framework of the "Belt and Road" initiative.

The "Jingshi Academy," jointly established by the college and Kazakhstan's Atyrau University of Petroleum and Natural Gas, has been officially unveiled and put into use at Atyrau University of Petroleum and Natural Gas. In the inaugural class, Sun Xinming, the Party branch secretary of the college's Petroleum Engineering Branch, delivered a professional and engaging lecture titled "Passing through the Imprint of Life for Billions of Years: A Journey of Paleontology and Earth Evolution" to 35 teachers and students from Harbin. The vivid explanation not only ignited students' enthusiasm for exploring earth science and petroleum geology but also intuitively showcased the solid standards and unique charm of vocational education in China.

Borrowing the 'ship' of enterprises to promote vocational education 'going global'

Focusing on the needs of cross-border industrial development of the "the Belt and Road", major cross-border projects such as the China Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan Railway have accelerated their implementation, and the demand for international technical talents is becoming increasingly urgent.

Xinjiang Railway Vocational and Technical College relies on the important platform of the "Silk Road High-speed Railway Workshop" - China Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan Railway Talent Training Base, jointly built with Tashkent State Transport University in Uzbekistan and Beijing Helishi System Engineering Co., Ltd., to fully leverage its strategic pivot role and actively organize the "Chinese + Vocational Skills" training program.

This workshop focuses on the construction of disciplines such as railway signaling and railway engineering. Through academic education and skills training, organizing skills competitions and promoting equipment research and development, strengthening teacher training and academic exchanges, it promotes the construction of the China Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan Railway, and helps improve the economic and social development level and people's well-being along the railway.

In the future, leveraging Xinjiang's regional advantages and resource endowments, the university will actively collaborate with Tashkent National Transport University and China-Uzbekistan railway enterprises. The focus will be on cultivating talent for the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, jointly developing professional and curriculum standards, and building teaching resources and bilingual textbooks. This initiative aims to create a "bridge" between China and Uzbekistan, serve the broader international transportation network, and accelerate the progress of the "Belt and Road" initiative.

On the basis of the first "Silk Road Workshop" in Kazakhstan, and through continuous exploration and expansion, the third "Luban Workshop" in Kazakhstan, constructed by Urumqi Vocational University and Almaty Logistics and Transportation University, has been officially unveiled and established. The school has jointly promoted overseas education projects with JD and Kazakhstan Logistics and Transportation University (ALT University), and has built and put into use the "Smart Logistics Training Center" and "JD Campus Purchase" productive training base. The project land has expanded from 200 square meters to 950 square meters; By 2025, the project aims to cultivate over 130 students who have mastered the skills of "Chinese+Smart Logistics"; Chinese language courses have been included in the ALT university level elective course system, covering all majors of the university; In addition, the school has replicated Kazakhstan's experience in overseas education to Uzbekistan and jointly established one "Silk Road Workshop" with Uzbekistan University of Natural and Social Sciences, forming a pattern of parallel development of "dual brands" in overseas education. The HSK Chinese Proficiency Test Center, jointly established with Uzbekistan Renaissance Education University, has also been put into use, completing HSK training and examination work for 67 people.

Joining forces to 'go global' and improve quality to support the revitalization of the Silk Road

In May 2025, the "China Central Asia Industry Education Integration Alliance" was officially established under the guidance of the China Education International Exchange Association, led by institutions such as Xinjiang Agricultural Vocational and Technical University and Tajikistan Agricultural University, with the participation of more than 70 domestic and foreign universities and enterprises. The first batch of the alliance plans to establish six committees in modern agriculture, transportation, energy and chemical industry, non-ferrous metals, construction engineering, and commercial logistics. This means that more 'Luban workshops' are about to enter Central Asia.

As a pioneer of "vocational education going global," Xinjiang Agricultural Vocational and Technical University actively spreads the "Chinese seeds" of modern agriculture in Central Asia. The university has established key "going global" projects in the areas of "Tajikistan cotton and seeds, Kazakhstan horticulture and animal husbandry, Uzbekistan water-saving and cotton, Pakistan animal husbandry," and more. It has built the China Tajikistan Modern Agricultural Engineering Technology College, the China Pakistan Agricultural and Animal Husbandry School, and the China Uzbekistan Water Practice Center, among others. Using "one cotton, one seedling, one cow and sheep" as initial focal points, it is gradually expanding the significant influence of modern agriculture and steadily promoting the deepening and implementation of "agricultural vocational education going global."

The school actively promotes the export of professional technical standards and talent training standards, increases investment in international teaching resources, and has promoted three international talent training standards, cooperating to jointly build 16 international digital course resources. At the same time, the school is accelerating the construction of the "Luban Workshop" in Namibia with Xinjiang Agricultural University; Strengthen the management of international student enrollment services and increase enrollment quotas for Tajikistan and Pakistan. Aziguli, a graduate of the school and employee of Xinjiang Jiuyu Agricultural Development Co., Ltd? Kurban has grown into the head of the company's production base in Uzbekistan. Same as Aziguli? Like Kurban, more and more high skilled talents are going abroad to showcase their talents in Central Asian countries, demonstrating the solid achievements and vitality of China's vocational education.