On November 1, SZPT and Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences held an online signing ceremony for the Technical and Vocational Education Training Center. Zheng Qiongfang, Senior Advisor for International Cooperation of Helsinki Municipal Government, Joni Ahonen, Vice President of Haaga-Helia University of Applied Science (Secretary Member of the Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences), Issa Orenma, Senior Project Expert of Haaga-Helia University of Applied Science, Li Yue, Vice President of Shenzhen Polytechnic, and Tang Kesheng, Member of the Party Committee and Head of the International Office of Shenzhen Polytechnic, attended the meeting.

Li Yue and Joni Ahonen signed a cooperation agreement

Zheng Qiongfang expressed congratulations on the formal establishment of the Technical and Vocational Education Training Center jointly built by the two sides. She said that since the start of cooperation, the two sides have made rapid progress and fruitful results. The establishment of the Technical and Vocational Education Training Center marks a new level of cooperation between the two sides. The Helsinki Municipal Government will as always support the cooperation between the two sides and looks forward to further promoting the cooperation in vocational education between China and Finland.

Li Yue thanked the Helsinki Municipal Government for its strong support and trust. She noted that SZPT has set up eight overseas vocational and technical education training centers in six countries. The Technical and Vocational Education Training Center jointly built with the Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences is our 9^th overseas vocational and technical education training center. Since the establishment of contacts in this April, the two sides have maintained close communication and made smooth progress in cooperation. On September 20, the two sides jointly held a “China-Finland Seminar on Health Care for the Elderly”, inviting Chinese and Finnish experts to discuss hot topics in the field of health care for the elderly. The first lesson in the series of Chinese language and Chinese culture courses “tailored” for teachers and students of the Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences was delivered successfully on October 31. She hoped that the two sides could continue to maintain close communication, strive to set a model for China-Finland vocational education cooperation and add new connotation to the friendly cooperation between China and Finland.

Joni Ahonen expressed heartfelt thanks to the Helsinki Municipal Government for its great support. He stated that the Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences is composed of 20 applied science universities in Finland, accounting for 90% of all Finnish applied science universities. All of its members are looking forward to more cooperation with Shenzhen Polytechnic and hope that there will be more opportunities for cooperation and exchanges in the future with the aid of the Technical and Vocational Education Training Center as a platform. Later on, Li Yue and Joni Ahonin signed a cooperation agreement in the presence of representatives from both sides. (Li Simin, International Office)