First Cohort of 38 Students under the UNESCO "Global Skills Youth Scholarship Program" Arrives at China Craftsman Valley Institutions

On July 1, Caofeidian, Tangshan, Hebei welcomed a special group of visitors. Thirty-eight young students from seven countries—Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, Tanzania, Madagascar, Jamaica, and Costa Rica—arrived successively at China Craftsman Valley · Beijing Caofeidian International Vocational Education Town. They are the first cohort of international students under the "100 Global Skills Youth Scholarship Program," jointly launched by the UNESCO Global Skills Academy (UNESCO-GSA) and China POCY Group. Hailing from Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, these young talents, driven by their dreams of skill acquisition, have traveled across vast distances to officially embark on a three-month "Chinese + Vocational Skills" study program.

Upon arrival, faculty and students from China Craftsman Valley institutions held a simple yet warm welcome ceremony at the airport and on campus, extending the hosts' sincere greetings to the guests from afar. Many students expressed their appreciation for the well-maintained campus environment and thoughtful reception arrangements. Guided by staff, the students completed their registration and dormitory check-in. A student representative from Kenya remarked that it was a great honor to have been granted this opportunity to study in China, and looked forward to acquiring advanced vocational skills, learning Chinese, and gaining a deeper understanding of Chinese culture over the next three months, with the aim of applying the skills learned to build their own countries and support local industrial development.

As a public-benefit skills training program tailored for young people from developing countries worldwide, the "100 Global Skills Youth Scholarship Program" focuses on vocational capacity building and international cultural exchange. The inaugural cohort comprises 38 outstanding students, all of whom were rigorously selected through the UNESCO Global Education Coalition, representing the cream of young skilled talent from their respective countries.

Under the program framework, the first phase of training focuses on four high-demand fields—Industrial Robotics, Healthcare & Nursing, Hospitality Management, and Cross-Border E-Commerce—with instruction delivered in English to accommodate international participants. Students will complete a three-month systematic training program at China Craftsman Valley institutions, with a curriculum encompassing Chinese language instruction, vocational skills training, and other diverse components. While acquiring skills in China, the students will also serve as ambassadors of cross-cultural exchange. Throughout the program, participants will also engage in a rich array of cultural activities, including visits to traditional Chinese cultural sites, enterprise study tours, observation of national-level World Skills competitions, and international cooperation seminars, thereby deepening their understanding of China's vocational education development and social landscape through diverse experiential settings.

As the second Chinese enterprise, following Huawei, to be selected as a member of the UNESCO Global Education Coalition and Global Skills Academy, China Poly Group has consistently upheld the philosophy of "empowering youth through skills and connecting the world through education." The successful arrival of the first cohort marks the official implementation phase of the program. In subsequent stages, the program will establish an alumni networking platform and select program ambassadors, building a sustainable "training-connection-referral-retraining" cycle for international talent. Looking ahead, this initiative will serve as a springboard to collaborate with UNESCO and global partners in exploring innovative pathways for future-oriented education, contributing Chinese wisdom and strength to building a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable global education ecosystem.

From Caofeidian to the world, from skills training to career empowerment, the "100 Global Skills Youth Scholarship Program" is putting into practice the principles of education for equity and skills for development. Over the next three months, these 38 international youth will study, grow, and exchange ideas on the fertile ground of China Craftsman Valley, collectively writing a cross-border story of skills-driven dreams.