Lifelong Learning in China Emphasises Continuing Education and Vocational Skills

On 11 October 2012, China’s annual National Lifelong Learning for All Activities Week, organised under the patronage of the Ministry of Education of China, Chinese Adult Education Association and the National Commission of China for UNESCO, was opened in Chengdu, capital of the Sichuan province in Western China. During an impressive opening ceremony at the Dacheng Conference Hall of Chengdu City, hosted by the Chengdu Community College, a series of initiatives of the Chinese authorities in support of lifelong learning was launched and a range of awards was granted to individuals and institutions to honour their efforts in supporting lifelong learning practice on the local, provincial and national levels. The initiatives mentioned had a strong focus on improving cooperation between cities and higher education institutions to enhance provision of continuing education for a broad range of potential learners.

In her address, Ms Lu Xin, Vice-Minister of Education of China, reinforced that continuing education is a most useful element of lifelong learning and crucial for reforming of education towards a modern system, while highlighting the need for effective pooling of resources from universities and municipalities to that end. She ended by reiterating that the demand for continuing education is evident and broadly shared, but concrete provision of learning opportunities must be strengthened, that responds creatively to the demand, with a focus on bridging initial vocational education and higher education.

Mr Werner Mauch, Senior Programme Specialist from the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, extended UNESCO’s congratulations to China for the progress made with the Lifelong Learning Activities Week. Already celebrated for the eighth consecutive year  in 2012, the initiative reaches out to more than 530 cities, districts and counties within 23 provinces nationwide. Furthermore, Mr Mauch praised the laudable efforts of the Chinese government in building a learning society in China.