Deepening ASEAN Educational Cooperation System – A Delegation of Our College Visited Laos and Cambodia for Investigation and Exchange

In order to actively practice the "Belt and Road" initiative, build up the ASEAN higher education cooperation system, and create a special brand of China's international cooperation in vocational education, a five-member delegation headed by Gu Shuqin, Director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Office of the college, went to Laos and Cambodia for an eight-day study tour and exchange from June 29 to July 6, 2024, and visited the Ministry of Education and Sports to discuss the cooperation project with Lao Soochow University, which is the first overseas schooling project.

During the visit to Laos, the delegation paid a visit to the Ministry of Education and Sports and presented the cooperation project between our college and Lao Soochow University, i.e., the construction of the first overseas education program — the ASEAN Branch of Suzhou Vocational Health College. The Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education and Sports of Laos affirmed the cooperation between the two sides and hoped that the establishment of the ASEAN branch would help Laos cultivate more high-quality medical and health talents suitable for the local community.

On July 1, in the presence of the leaders of the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education and Sports in Laos, our college signed a joint training MOU with Lao Soochow University, and held a ceremony for the opening of the "ASEAN Branch of Suzhou Vocational Health College". Members of the delegation, Ms. Chen Fengmei from the School of Public Health and Ms. Ge Binqian from the School of Nursing, gave lectures on the topics of "Prevention and Control of AIDS" and "Perinatal Maternal and Infant Health and Safety" respectively, which were warmly welcomed by local teachers and students. The delegation visited the Lao People Army 103 Central Hospital and the China-aided Mahosot General Hospital. The leaders of both hospitals expressed their warm welcome to the delegation and looked forward to subsequent in-depth cooperation with our college in talent cultivation, scientific research, and cultural exchanges.

During the visit to Cambodia, the delegation visited Cambodia Public Zhongshan School, Siem Reap to discuss the possibility of cooperation in the international student recruitment program, and both sides expressed their willingness to collaborate on the project. The delegation also visited Cambodia Jayavarman VII Children's Hospital to learn about the medical and health care status of local maternal and child health care, and discussed establishing a cooperative project for the cultivation and training of Chinese and Cambodian medical and health care talents in the future. On July 5, the delegation visited the Sihanoukville Institute of Business and Technology to meet with the relevant leaders of both sides to discuss school cooperation initiatives. After the meeting, the "Suzhou Vocational Health College Training Center in Cambodia" was unveiled.

During the visit to Laos and Cambodia, the delegation gained a lot of experience and realized that international cooperation and exchanges need updating of concepts, innovation of mechanisms, and exploration of new modes of adapting to the changing situation. They also realized the importance of taking the actual needs of the countries along the Belt and Road into account to promote the development of cooperation projects with special features. In addition, the establishment of the ASEAN Branch, the first overseas cooperative program of our college, is not only a positive initiative to respond to the national "vocational education going overseas" initiative but also a good opportunity for the "One Belt, One Road" countries to jointly build the "education community". This is of far-reaching significance in fostering educational cooperation and enhancing the well-being of people's livelihoods.