Sino-French Education Meets Halfway: What New Possibilities Does China Craftsman Valley Bring?

In line with the consensus between the leaders of China and France to deepen practical cooperation in the field of education, a delegation from China Craftsman Valley visited France from November 28 to December 2, 2025 (local time). Led by Mr. Yao Yichun, President of China POCY Group and Chair of the UNESCO World Federation Industry-Education Integration Committee, the delegation included Ms. Sun Aiping, Executive Vice President of China POCY Group, and Mr. Li Junsong, Chairman of Tangshan Maritime Institute. During the visit, the delegation conducted a series of educational exchange activities, holding in-depth discussions on key topics related to Sino-French educational cooperation with Galileo Global Education, Sorbonne University, and the UNESCO Headquarters. Multiple collaborative consensuses were reached, laying a solid foundation for promoting mutual learning and practical cooperation between the educational resources of China and France.

1. Galileo Global Education

At Galileo Global Education, the delegation held discussions with relevant executives in charge of international affairs to gain a deep understanding of the group's development history, business layout, and future strategic planning. Both parties agreed to build upon their previous successful collaboration and further explore new models and areas of educational cooperation, engaging in higher-level, higher-quality, and deeper collaboration in fields such as high-end talent cultivation and scientific & technological research and development.

The delegation focused on inspecting two of its affiliated institutions: Paris School of Business (PSB) and L'Institut Supérieur des Arts Appliqués (LISAA). At PSB, the two sides held in-depth discussions on directions including faculty and student exchanges, joint curriculum development, and academic research. They reached a consensus on implementing multi-level cooperative education models such as "3+0" and "3+1," aiming to jointly explore new models for cultivating business talents adapted to the needs of the new era through Sino-French collaboration.

At LISAA, both parties conducted a thematic seminar focusing on global trends in art education and vocational needs. They plan to jointly establish an independent Sino-foreign cooperative art vocational college based on the principles of "integrating tradition and modernity" and "coexistence of skills and creativity." Collaboration will be centered on "joint curriculum development" to create combined course systems in fields like fashion design and digital art; supported by "joint faculty training" to organize regular teacher exchanges and teaching skill workshops; and facilitated through a "joint practical promotion" platform to establish mechanisms for student internships and project cooperation. The aim is to jointly cultivate high-quality artistic and skilled talents possessing both cultural confidence and global competitiveness.

Additionally, the delegation visited other institutions under Galileo Global Education, such as Paris School of Technology and Business (PST&B) and COPERNIA, gaining in-depth understanding of their advanced concepts and practical experience in international education. This provides valuable insights for China Craftsman Valley institutions to enhance educational quality and broaden international cooperation channels.

Galileo Global Education is the largest higher education group in Europe and the second largest in the world. It is a leader in innovation and creativity within the global education sector, operating over 50 higher education institutions worldwide. Its Paris School of Business (PSB) is a member of the French elite "Grandes Écoles" consortium and is among the less than 1% of global business schools holding prestigious international accreditations such as EQUIS, AMBA, AACSB, and UGEI. L'Institut Supérieur des Arts Appliqués (LISAA) was founded in 1986 under the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, holds dual certification from the French Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture and Communication, is authorized to award state-recognized RNCP diplomas, and has been under the oversight of the French Committee for Arts and Culture since 2000.

2. Sorbonne University

At Sorbonne University, the delegation was received by the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management. The two sides exchanged views on potential cooperation in areas including talent cultivation, educational research, joint academic development, and cultural exchange. The delegation highlighted the unique advantages and successful experience of China Craftsman Valley in industry-education integration and collaborative university-enterprise talent cultivation, expressing the desire to engage in deep cooperation with Sorbonne University in the field of interdisciplinary talent development. Sorbonne University showed strong interest, and both parties agreed to establish a comprehensive long-term cooperation mechanism to promote specific projects such as faculty/student exchanges, short-term training, and academic advancement.

Sorbonne University is a public research university located in Paris, France, and a member of the French Excellence Initiative (IDEX). It comprises faculties of Medicine, Science & Engineering, and Arts, Humanities, Languages & Human Sciences. As of 2025, it operates across 29 campuses with approximately 53,000 students and 3,300 professors. As one of France's oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning, Sorbonne University enjoys a high reputation in educational theory research and interdisciplinary integration, having produced over 20 Nobel Laureates and Fields Medalists, including Pierre and Marie Curie.

3. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

At the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, the delegation held talks with senior officials from the Education Sector. The discussions centered on the implementation details of the "100 Scholarships" program under the Education 2030 Framework for Action, reaching consensus on key aspects such as selection criteria, funding mechanisms, and project timelines. Both parties agreed to actively promote the international mutual recognition of relevant competency certificates, ensuring the learning outcomes of participants are recognized across multiple countries and regions.

The "100 Scholarships" program is jointly initiated by China POCY Group and the UNESCO Global Skills Academy (UNESCO-GSA). It aims to empower disadvantaged youth groups in Africa, Latin America, and Small Island Developing States through vocational education. The first training phase is scheduled to be conducted intensively at China Craftsman Valley institutions from June 27 to September 28, 2026. Through integrated "Chinese Language + Vocational Skills" courses, the program will systematically enhance participants' employability, cross-cultural communication skills, and career resilience, thereby concretely contributing to global educational equity and talent mobility.

This visit not only facilitated a precise alignment of Sino-French educational resources but also marked an international breakthrough for the China Craftsman Valley's industry-education integration model. French partners widely recognized that the deep integration of educational innovation and industrial practice exemplified by China Craftsman Valley provides innovative insights for the development of global vocational education.

When Eastern wisdom meets Western experience, the possibilities of education are far richer than we imagine. In the future, China POCY Group will continue to respond pragmatically to the demands of global educational transformation. By focusing on talent cultivation, scientific research innovation, and cross-cultural exchange, the Group will accelerate the implementation of Sino-French cooperation projects and promote the in-depth development of Sino-French educational collaboration, offering more diverse educational choices, broader career horizons, and a more innovative future for more young people.