Posted on Dec.1, 2025 by Dong Quanyue|Qingdao Vocational and Technical College of Hotel Management
A key education dialogue and signing ceremony between South Australia and China’s Shandong Province took place in Adelaide on November 27.
Co-hosted by Shandong Provincial Department of Education, South Australia’s Department for Industry and Skills, and TAFE South Australia, the event welcomed guests including Zhang Zhigang (Vice Director of Shandong’s Education Department), Blair Boyer (South Australia’s Minister for Education, Training and Skills), Ingrid Howson (TAFE South Australia Board Chair), and Diao Hongbin (University Party Committee Secretary), who signed the cooperation document on the college’s behalf.
A New Benchmark for Subnational Cooperation
Witnessed by attendees, Zhang Zhigang signed an MOU with TAFE South Australia and unveiled the Shandong-South Australia Vocational Education Industry-University-Research Base.
Notably, Diao Hongbin signed a second five-year MOU with TAFE South Australia, making the college the only higher education institution to secure a vocational education cooperation agreement at the event.
High-Level Talks Shape Future Ties
Zhang Zhigang highlighted Shandong’s education landscape and bilateral achievements in higher, vocational and basic education, vowing to deepen vocational education cooperation via faculty exchanges, youth interactions and pragmatic collaborations.
Blair Boyer emphasized education and skills as key cooperation priorities, calling the dialogue a milestone in the long-term sister-state partnership. Ingrid Howson introduced TAFE South Australia’s operations (focusing on Tonsley Campus) and advocated for mutual learning, exchange platforms and joint priority projects.
A Decade of Fruitful Cooperation
At the seminar held post-signing, Diao Hongbin reviewed the 10-year partnership, noting progress in joint programs, faculty fellowships and training, and expressed expectations for further collaboration in joint institutions, student cultural experiences, academic upgrading and curriculum development.
TAFE South Australia CEO Adam Collett welcomed the delegation and affirmed the partnership’s value.
A New Chapter in International Cooperation
Since 2015, the college and TAFE South Australia have launched 1 joint program, trained 35 faculty via TAE sessions, sent 10 teachers on semester-long fellowships and co-trained 100 students. With the new MOU, the college will expand faculty overseas fellowships, student study tours and academic upgrading, strengthen joint program/curriculum development, and strive to become a model for vocational education cooperation between sister provinces and states.
