From October 27 to 30, Shenzhen Polytechnic University (SZPU) hosted the Tourism Track (Beverage Service Group) Final of the 2024 World Vocational College Skills Competition. A total of 57 teams and 195 contestants from across the nation competed in various modules, including cocktail preparation, wine service, and project presentation. Ultimately, six teams won gold, eleven teams won silver, and seventeen teams received bronze. SZPU’s School of Management team achieved gold and advanced to the next qualifying round in Tianjin, securing first place in the “six-to-one” playoff.

Cocktail Preparation.

Sparkling Wine Service.

Organized by over 30 ministries and commissions, including the Ministry of Education, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Science and Technology, the event was hosted by the Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, and Education Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, with SZPU as a co-organizer. This competition, guided by the principles of “drawing on international standards, emphasizing Chinese characteristics, staying production-focused, and reflecting work processes”, evaluated vocational tourism students’ comprehensive skills in beverage service. It aimed to cultivate well-rounded, high-quality skilled tourism professionals, contributing to socio-economic development.

During the opening ceremony, SZPU Party Secretary Yang Xinbin extended a warm welcome to attending leaders, experts, and students and briefly introduced the university’s accomplishments. He noted that since its founding, SZPU has been aligned with national strategies and Shenzhen’s growth, achieving many milestones in Chinese vocational education and consistently ranking among the top institutions nationwide. He also expressed SZPU’s commitment to providing an excellent platform for participants to showcase their skills and foster high-quality development in hotel management.

In his speech, Xiao Shengsheng, Deputy Director of the Vocational & Lifelong Education Division of the Education Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, emphasized that the Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee and Government have consistently prioritized vocational education within the broader context of educational reform and socio-economic development. He highlighted Shenzhen’s proactive efforts in establishing the city as a national pilot for industry-education integration and a model city for vocational education through joint initiatives with provincial and ministerial authorities. These efforts aim to support Shenzhen’s goal of becoming a globally influential economic center and to contribute Shenzhen’s “model experience” to the development of vocational education worldwide. The “Beverage Service” event was a newly introduced category in the 2023 Ministry of Education Vocational College Skills Competition. Hosted this time by Shenzhen Polytechnic University, the “Beverage Service Group” competition marks the second time this event has been held in Guangdong Province. We aim to make this competition a high-quality, high-standard, and distinctive event.

In her speech, Wu Yanling, Deputy Inspector of the Department of Education of Guangdong Province, stated that Guangdong Province places a strong emphasis on the development of vocational education, adhering to high-level planning. The province is accelerating the establishment of an integrated vocational education system that blends general and vocational education with industry-education integration, creating a professional structure that closely aligns with industry and innovation chains. This approach precisely supports the regional development framework of the “One Core, One Belt, One Area”, fostering a vibrant synergy between vocational education and regional industries, with both sectors advancing in unison. The competition serves as a vital platform for evaluating the achievements of vocational education and as an essential stage for showcasing the talents of students and faculty from vocational institutions. With the theme “Skills Shine Youth, Innovation Creates the Future”, this year’s competition encourages participants to showcase their youthful energy and innovative spirit through exceptional skills and artistry.

Custom Cocktail Presentation.

SZPU School of Management Team Wins Gold.

As a co-organizer of this competition, Shenzhen Polytechnic University has provided top-quality services, comprehensive support, and excellent technical assistance to create an optimal stage for participants to showcase their talents. The achievements of this competition will serve as valuable references for enhancing the quality of technical and skilled talent training, advancing educational reform, and fostering deeper integration between industry and education. After two days of intense competition, six teams won gold, eleven teams won silver, and seventeen teams received bronze. SZPU’s School of Management team achieved gold and advanced to the next qualifying round in Tianjin, securing first place in the “six-to-one” playoff.

Founded in 1995, SZPU’s Hotel Management Program has been recognized as a “Key Program for Guangdong Provincial High-Level Vocational Education Institutions” and a “Provincial High-Level Program”. It has developed one national-level quality course and one national resource database. Over the past five years, it has published more than ten textbooks and received numerous first prizes in national and provincial skills competitions. The program has established specialized training centers, including a wine laboratory, a coffee and beverage training center, and a provincial training base for World Skills Competition preparation, helping students enhance their technical skills The program also maintains long-term partnerships with internationally renowned hotel brands such as InterContinental and Marriott, as well as domestic leaders like H World, providing students with valuable internship and employment pathways. Graduates are widely praised for their strong professional skills and exemplary work ethics.

(Correspondent Wang Feng)