By Dong Quanyue, Qingdao Vocational and Technical College of Hotel Management
The first UNESCO Global Forum on Culture and Food: Innovative Strategies for Sustainable Development was held in Parma, Italy between September 12 and 13. Jiang Yuntao, a teacher majoring in Western Food Technology of QVTCHM, was invited by UNESCO to attend and make a speech.
At the forum, Jiang Yuntao introduced the work and efforts made by China for the 2030 sustainable development plan of the United Nations through the integration of culture and diet, as well as the current situation of the development of China's vocational education in culinary arts and the trend of the catering industry in the past two decades. At the same time, he discussed the integration of culture and food, the relationship between the role and its impact on society and environment, especially the experience and practice of popularizing the concept of sustainable development to students in our college.
Jiang Yuntao's speech attracted the attention of experts from various countries. He discussed and shared the experience of Chinese catering industry and Chinese cuisine vocational education in creating employment opportunities, eliminating poverty and improving people's living standards. After the meeting, Ms. Paola Leoncini-Bartoli, Director-General of UNESCO's Ministry of Culture, expressed her gratitude to Jiang Yuntao. During the forum, the delegates were invited by the mayor of Parma, Italy, to visit ALMA, a famous Italian culinary institute.
The forum aims to promote the role of culture and food in environmental protection, and to strengthen social cohesion through the protection of cultural traditions and professional technology. About 150 international experts, scholars, catering industry practitioners, representatives of governments, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations were invited to participate in five thematic discussions.
The participation in the global forum is an important measure to promote international running schools in an all-round way and train international professional teachers. It is another successful demonstration of professional teachers on the global stage after the United Nations Culinary Skills Show.
