Guangxi and ASEAN countries share geographical proximity and cultural connections, providing a unique regional advantage. Guangxi Vocational College of Water Resources and Electric Power (GCWE) leverages its strengths in education to align closely with regional economic and societal development as well as the evolving needs of the hydropower industry. The college actively advances international exchanges and cooperation in vocational education, collaborating with ASEAN countries to build platforms, establish mechanisms, share resources, and cultivate talent, striving to develop the 'Guishui Brand' as a key contributor to international industrial capacity cooperation.
Establishing Open Cooperation Platforms to Promote Dialogue and Collaboration Among Hydropower and Energy Institutions
As the leading initiator of the China-ASEAN Energy Vocational Education Alliance, GCWE serves as the alliance’s chair institution. The college organizes at least one international exchange and cooperation forum annually, focusing on themes such as "High-Quality Development of China-ASEAN Energy Vocational Education" and "Integration of Smart Water Conservancy Education, Talent, and Industry in China-ASEAN Cooperation." These forums facilitate in-depth discussions among government officials, industry leaders, enterprises, and educational institutions, creating a comprehensive platform that integrates domestic and international, on-campus and off-campus, and online and offline resources to support energy-related vocational institutions across China and ASEAN.
Leveraging this platform, GCWE has engaged in skills training, talent development, and cultural exchange with seven ASEAN countries, including Cambodia. The college has jointly established five 'Guishui Workshops' overseas training bases in ASEAN nations and has built an integrated teaching-research-training base for hydropower cooperation between China and Cambodia, which has been recognized as a China-ASEAN Model Cooperation Project for Vocational Colleges. GCWE has also developed 19 internationally accredited teaching resources, which are utilized in training programs for employees of Chinese-funded and local enterprises overseas. Notably, the occupational standards for "Intelligent Management of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Projects" and "Engineer for Smart Water Conservancy" have been officially recognized by the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports and incorporated into Laos' national vocational education system for widespread adoption.
Establishing a Modern Craftsmanship Institute to Develop a Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration Model in the Green Energy Sector
GCWE, in partnership with China Huadian Cambodia Power Operation Co., Ltd. and Prek Leap National Institute of Agriculture (Cambodia), has co-established the China-Cambodia Institute of Modern Craftsmanship of Green Energy. This initiative follows a "1+3+3+N" multi-stakeholder collaboration model, which focuses on one core objective: enhancing talent development in the hydropower industry. It emphasizes the synergy between three key stakeholders—universities, enterprises, and research institutions—and promotes cooperation in three areas: degree education, skills training, and applied research transformation, with numerous international exchange and collaboration projects under development.
An innovative "223" international talent training model has been implemented, integrating dual academic registration for Chinese and Cambodian students, dual identities as students and apprentices, and tripartite collaboration among universities, enterprises, and research institutions across China, Cambodia, and ASEAN countries. This model fosters an industry-education integration consortium linking Chinese universities, Chinese-funded enterprises, and ASEAN higher education institutions.
In Cambodia, GCWE has upgraded and renovated a comprehensive practical training building, equipping it with four key facilities, including a remote learning smart classroom, a “Craftsmanship Learning” interactive room, a digital “Craftsmanship” library, and a water conservancy education center. Additionally, the college has collaborated with Cambodian enterprises to establish three practical training bases integrating China’s latest hydropower technologies, water-saving irrigation methods, and water-fertilizer integration techniques. Furthermore, GCWE and its partners have jointly developed two undergraduate degree programs in Power System Automation Technology and Agricultural Engineering & Rural Construction, co-created 19 specialized training courses, and established 21 shared teaching standards. The China-Cambodia Institute of Modern Craftsmanship of Green Energy project has been recognized as a "China-ASEAN Vocational Education Excellence Partnership Project."
Strengthening Industry-School Collaboration to Enhance International Talent Development and Industrial Capacity Cooperation
GCWE actively supports the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by collaborating with enterprises operating abroad, addressing the mismatch between the supply of vocational education and the demand from Chinese enterprises expanding overseas. The college has partnered with China Huadian Cambodia Power Operation Co., Ltd. to establish a talent training base and has developed a "Four Excellence" international talent development model (precision recruitment, targeted training, precise job placement, and refined management).
In alignment with the company’s workforce needs, GCWE selects students for targeted training, customizes teaching methods to meet skill requirements, and strategically assigns trainees to suitable job positions. Once employed, graduates receive continuous professional development and performance-based management.
For local Cambodian technicians, GCWE and its enterprise partners have developed a localized talent training system tailored to the ASEAN energy sector. This system integrates Chinese language, cultural competency, and hydropower expertise, ensuring that training programs align with corporate workforce demands. The college has jointly developed Chinese-language-based vocational training programs and digitized teaching resources. To date, GCWE has conducted 27 training sessions under the “Chinese + Hydropower Vocational Skills” program, benefiting over 4,200 foreign employees and effectively supporting the rapid development of Chinese enterprises abroad while addressing Cambodia’s growing demand for hydropower professionals.
Promoting Cultural Exchange to Foster Mutual Understanding and Enhance Soft Power in Industrial Cooperation
GCWE actively develops a vocational education brand that highlights the hydropower industry’s expertise and the region’s ethnic cultural heritage, fostering a deeper appreciation of Chinese culture and narratives. By integrating the Great Yu Water Control spirit and Zhuang ethnic culture, the college has established a unique cultural education system, featuring initiatives such as "Great Yu Academy" and "Jinghu Lecture Hall."
GCWE has compiled bilingual teaching materials, including the "Chinese Water Culture" series, and has developed a VR-based virtual simulation of the Lingqu Canal, along with a hydropower education museum. These resources aim to cultivate "China-friendly, China-proficient, and China-connected" international hydropower professionals.
The college also collaborates with overseas enterprises and institutions to organize traditional Chinese cultural activities, international vocational skills competitions, and cross-border skill-sharing events, creating platforms for cultural exchange, professional skill competitions, and experience sharing. These initiatives help foster technological and cultural integration between China and ASEAN, strengthen the China-ASEAN community with a shared future, and enhance the soft power of international industrial capacity cooperation.
Expanding the ‘Guishui Brand’ to Deepen International Engagement and Industrial Cooperation
By actively aligning with China’s national opening-up policies, GCWE has successfully developed the "Guishui Brand" to support international industrial capacity cooperation, achieving significant progress in global engagement. The college has been recognized among China’s Top 100 Vocational Colleges for International Development.
Looking ahead, GCWE will continue to align its initiatives with the Belt and Road Initiative and regional economic development strategies, leveraging opportunities from the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 and the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The college will expand its “small but high-quality” international vocational education programs, continuously enhance the global influence of the "Guishui Brand," and position itself as a key enabler of international industrial capacity cooperation.
