The 2024 World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference will be held in Tianjin from Nov 20 to 22, and is expected to gather over 600 international representatives from 77 countries and regions, the Ministry of Education said on Thursday.

The event, the second of its kind following the inaugural conference in 2022, is themed "Innovation Empowers the Future, Skills Enlighten New Life", underscoring the critical role of skills in shaping individual lives and highlighting the power of innovation in advancing vocational education for the future, said Peng Binbo, head of the ministry's Department of Vocational and Adult Education.

The conference will introduce the World TVET Prize, the first global award in vocational education established by China. Initiated by the World TVET Development Alliance, the award aims to recognize exceptional contributions to vocational education on a global scale, following international standards with a nomination and evaluation committee, Peng said.

This year's National Vocational College Skills Competition has been upgraded to an international level. The global competition, featuring over 29,000 participants from 74 countries, will conclude with a championship round on Nov 21 in Tianjin, he said.

"China has established the world's largest vocational education system, with over 11,133 vocational schools and nearly 35 million students enrolled by 2023," Peng said.

Vocational education now produces over 70 percent of new workers in key industries, including advanced manufacturing and modern services, he added.

The China Vocational Education Development Report will be unveiled during the conference, aiming to share the country's practices and solutions to the global vocational education.

Currently, over 200 vocational institutions in China have collaborated with other countries and regions to establish more than 400 educational institutions and projects overseas, Peng said.

Chen Dali, deputy head of the ministry's Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges, said China's vocational education partnerships are expanding with ASEAN, Africa, Central Asia, and Europe. Key programs include over 30 Luban Workshops across Asia, Europe, and Africa, training students in high-demand technical skills to meet local development needs.

"The conference will create an international platform for exchange and collaboration in vocational education. By sharing China's standards and solutions, it will further enhance the country's contribution to vocational education system," Chen said.