Connecting the Future of Global Education with China's Solutions | China POCY Group Actively Participates in the 2026 UNESCO Global Education Coalition Annual Meeting

From March 23 to 24, 2026 (local time), the Sixth Annual Meeting of the UNESCO Global Education Coalition (GEC) was held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. More than 240 coalition members, along with representatives from national education authorities, international organizations, and leading enterprises, gathered to discuss pathways for global education transformation and explore strategies for making quality education accessible to all.

Group photo of the GEC Annual Meeting

Group photo of the China Craftsman Valley delegation with Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, and Borhene Chakroun, Director of the Division for Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems

As a core member of the UNESCO Global Education Coalition (GEC) and a key partner of the Global Skills Academy (GSA), the China Craftsman Valley delegation – comprising Sun Aiping, Executive Vice President of China POCY Group; Ma Jia, General Manager of the Education Division; Zhang Shukun, Assistant to the President of Tangshan Maritime Institute; and Chang Haiman, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Office at Caofeidian College of Technology – actively participated in all sessions of the Annual Meeting, effectively voicing China's perspectives on vocational education and contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions.

01 High-Level Dialogue: Bridging Vision and Practice, Exploring Pathways for Educational Transformation

The Annual Meeting was held under the theme "Turning Vision into Value: Transforming Education Together," focusing on key issues such as progress in digital transformation, priority actions, and partnership development. The aim was to strengthen collaboration within the coalition and share cutting-edge insights and case studies on the socio-economic benefits of digital transformation and AI applications, helping global education systems adapt to the wave of digital and intelligent development.

In her opening address, Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, noted that current technological developments are profoundly reshaping the global labor market, highlighting the growing value and importance of digital skills. She called for data-driven research and capacity-building efforts to drive educational transformation in response to employment shifts and to empower workers' development.

Opening address, Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education

Education officials from Albania, Angola, the Cook Islands, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mozambique, and South Africa's Northern Cape Province shared their countries' practical experiences and outcomes in digital transformation, focusing on six key pillars of digital transition.

The China Craftsman Valley delegation listened attentively to the presentations and actively engaged in discussions on core themes such as "Skills Development for the Future of Work," "Youth Development and International Cooperation," and "Global Priorities for Digital Transformation in Education," fostering deep cross-pollination of ideas and mutual learning.

02 Co-creating Value: Building Consensus and Driving Practical Action

During the parallel sessions, China Craftsman Valley actively participated in two thematic seminars – one organized by the Global Skills Academy (GSA) and another on gender equality. The delegation highlighted the implementation pathways of the "100 Global Scholarship Program," systematically explaining its core strengths in curriculum design, talent selection criteria, training model innovation, and employment support services. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions and agreed that the program provides a practical and effective skills development pathway for youth in developing countries, while also offering a replicable and scalable model for global skills training. This fully demonstrates the inclusivity, practicality, and forward-looking vision of China's educational solutions.

Scene from a parallel forum session

It is worth noting that during the preparatory phase of the Annual Meeting, China POCY Group actively participated in three organizing committee meetings, contributing to agenda planning and topic design. Many of its constructive suggestions were adopted by the organizing committee, providing crucial support for the successful and efficient convening of the meeting. This exemplifies the responsibility and professional capability of a Chinese enterprise in global education governance.

China POCY Group's deep involvement not only showcases China's innovative achievements in vocational education to the world but also conveys a profound understanding of the essence of education: educational equity is not just about "access to education," but also about "access to quality education" ; educational quality is not just about knowledge transfer, but also about capacity building and value creation ; and education governance is not just about policy formulation, but also about systematic infrastructure provision. This pragmatic approach positions China POCY Group as a model of action-oriented responsibility in global education cooperation.

03 Vision in Action: Deepening Global Partnerships, Writing a New Chapter of Connected Development

With less than five years remaining to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Education Goal), the state of global education remains challenging. Latest data from UNESCO indicates that 272 million children are still out of school, and only 58% of learners achieve basic reading proficiency. While many learners struggle to successfully transition into the labor market, employers face the most severe talent shortages in 17 years, highlighting the growing disconnect between global education systems and industry needs.

"Eliminate inequality through skills, connect globalization through standards, and build sustainability through ecosystems." This is the core message China POCY Group conveyed at the Annual Meeting, and it serves as the guiding principle for its global education cooperation efforts. From multilateral dialogues at UNESCO Headquarters to grassroots practices around the world, China POCY Group is continuously transforming China's innovative vocational education experiences into global public goods.

Looking ahead, within the framework of UNESCO cooperation, China POCY Group will continue to engage with openness, professionalism, and action-oriented commitment, deepening comprehensive partnerships with global allies. On one hand, it will continue to support the Global Skills Academy (GSA) in expanding its global footprint and promote the joint development and sharing of international skills training standards. On the other hand, it will further expand the reach of the "100 Global Scholarship Program," extending China Craftsman Valley's high-quality curricula and teacher resources to more developing countries.

China Craftsman Valley delegation exchanging views with youth representatives

China Craftsman Valley delegation engaging with fellow participants

At the same time, China POCY Group will continue to strengthen the "China Craftsman Valley International Industry-Education Alliance" working with global partners to build a mutually beneficial, collaborative, and co-developed "Global Skills Community." The Group is committed to establishing "China Craftsman Valley" as a world-renowned "World Skills Learning Destination," using China's vocational education strengths to advance global education equity and writing a new chapter in which "China's solutions connect the future of global education" through concrete cooperation.