On June 10 and 11, Shanghai Donghai College (SDC) underwent on-site assessment by the expert panel for the ASIIN-ZEAC Sino-German Joint Higher Vocational Program Accreditation, covering two programs: Mechatronics Technology and Customs and Foreign Trade Services. As the first higher vocational college in China to apply for ASIIN international program accreditation, SDC has delivered a landmark breakthrough in the field of Sino-German joint accreditation for vocational education nationwide.
ASIIN (German Accreditation Agency for Study Programs in Engineering, Informatics, Natural Sciences and Mathematics) is a leading non-profit accreditation agency specialising in STEM disciplines in Germany. Founded in 1999, it is a founding member of the EUR-ACE (European Accreditation of Engineering Programmes) system and a provisional member of the Washington Accord. Its accreditation scope covers engineering, natural sciences and mathematics, economics and management, computer science and other fields. Its accreditation credentials are widely recognized by authorities in the EU, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and many other countries and regions, and graduates from accredited programs are eligible for professional engineering qualifications in overseas jurisdictions.
Wang Yu, Vice President of SDC, Zhang Juyang, Assistant to the President and Director of the Academic Affairs Office, together with heads of relevant functional departments, secondary schools and program directors, attended the opening ceremony. Wang Yu extended a warm welcome to all experts on the panel for their on-site guidance. In her remarks, she noted that as the first higher vocational institution in China to pursue ASIIN international accreditation, this accreditation serves not only as a comprehensive review and validation of the educational quality of the two programs, but also as a critical step for SDC to seize opportunities in vocational education internationalization, refine SDC’s talent cultivation model and benchmark against international standards. Building on this accreditation,SDC will deepen industry-education integration, teaching reform and program quality upgrading, and comprehensively enhance the international employability of interdisciplinary technical and skilled talents. Zhang Juyang delivered a presentation on the general overview of SDC’s educational operations. During the two-day assessment, the expert panel conducted all procedures in a structured closed-loop process in strict accordance with the Sino-German joint accreditation standards, and presented the preliminary findings of the on-site review on the afternoon of June 11.
This program accreditation blazes a trail for ASIIN international accreditation among Chinese higher vocational colleges, and stands as a milestone initiative for SDC to implement the national strategy of Vocational Education Going Global, align with the international vocational education system and build an international education brand. Following the comments and recommendations from the expert panel, SDC will address gaps in program development, optimize international talent training schemes, deepen industry-education integration and vocational education global outreach, and continue to strengthen its flagship programs. We will strive to develop high-standard international vocational programs that benchmark against global standards, respond to industrial needs and carry national demonstration value.
（Correspondent: Bi Shisen, Translator: Liu Yichen）
