Educational bonds with ASEAN strengthened

When Yu Dandan received the news that one of her Cambodian students had landed a high-paying job at a Chinese-funded company, she couldn't hide her joy.

Since 2018, Yu has taught international students at Guizhou Vocational and Technical College of Water Resources and Hydropower.

The State-run college, located in Qingzhen Vocational Education City in Guiyang, Guizhou province, has a growing number of students from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand who are learning skills there. As one of China's largest vocational education clusters, the region has become a beacon for foreign youths seeking quality training and promising careers.

In July 2023, the first group of 35 students graduated from Yalong Silk Road College, a joint initiative between the college in Guizhou and the Regional Polytechnic Institute Techo Sen Battambang in Cambodia. Chinese instructors provided both language training and handson technical instruction, with a focus on cultivating talent in electrical automation technology.

"Our first group of students was outstanding. They earned dual certificates from both our institution and our Cambodian partner. Most are now employed by Chinese-funded companies, and some have already been promoted to management roles," Yu said.

Since the program began enrolling international students, Yu has dedicated herself to teaching Chinese language courses. Walking around campus, she remembers the names of every international student she meets.

All technical instruction is delivered in Chinese, so students must quickly adapt to the language.

"Most of them could barely say 'hello' in Chinese when they arrived. Seeing their progress until they could follow lessons in Chinese is rewarding," she added.

"Our curriculum not only imparts practical skills, but also everyday and professional Chinese communication. Learning both the language and technical skills meets the needs of our students," Yu explained.

Keo Souching and Heng Kim Ea from Phnom Penh are among the students enrolled in the college's one-year Chinese language program. After passing the HSK — the official standardized Chinese language proficiency test — they will have the opportunity to further develop their professional skills or apply to other universities in China.

"I've been in China for nearly a year and I want to major in finance," Keo told China Daily in fluent Chinese. "I've applied to Nankai University as I'm hoping to continue my studies and build a career in China. Before arriving, I was worried about adapting to the climate, but Guizhou's weather suits me perfectly — I really like it."

Heng, 19, who was first drawn to China by the traditional costumes and culture she saw in TV dramas, said her favorite class is Chinese traditional culture. After graduation, she hopes to return to Cambodia to become a Chinese language teacher.

"Guizhou stands out for its strengths in vocational education, particularly in fields like water conservancy, hydropower and transportation," said Song Haijing, the college's director of international education. "Its proximity to Southeast Asia, along with similar climates and dietary habits, makes it especially appealing to students from the region."

According to Song, the college currently hosts 43 international students, 23 of whom are Cambodian. The second round of enrollment for Yalong Silk Road College will begin in September. Chinese teachers will travel to Cambodia for instruction, and top-performing students will be given the opportunity to further their studies in China.

Song's college is not alone in its efforts. Across the province, other colleges such as Guizhou Communications Polytechnic University are also working with Southeast Asian partners to share expertise and expand training programs.

Cambodia and Malaysia both face development needs in transportation infrastructure, including construction and operational management. "Based on student employment feedback, Cambodia still requires a large number of transportation engineering professionals to support the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges and other projects," said Lyu Xinlu, the head of international affairs at the university.

Founded in 1958 and known as the "cradle of Guizhou transportation talent", the college has produced graduates who've played key roles in China's transportation and bridge-building sectors. Now, it's taking its expertise in bridge engineering in karst areas to the global stage.

In partnership with Zhejiang Institute of Communications and Cambodia's Industrial Technical Institute, the college has set up a specialized training center in Cambodia.

Early in 2019, the university sent two groups of instructors to Cambodia to conduct surveying and engineering training.

Lyu explained that the university has sent over 10 teachers so far and has trained a total of 772 local students, with some already gaining practical experience in Cambodia's Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway project.

"Our cooperation and exchanges with ASEAN countries have spanned over a decade, and this year, we plan to send five teachers to Cambodia for further training efforts," Lyu added.