Founded in 1993, Shanghai Donghai College is one of China’s earliest full-time private colleges approved by the Ministry of Education to confer national academic diplomas. It is a Shanghai Municipal Model Higher Vocational College with Distinctive Features, a Municipal Demonstrative Private College, an Excellent Private Higher Education Institution in China, and ranks among China’s Top 100 Private and Vocational Education Institutions. SDC prioritizes communication and exchange with world-class overseas institutions, introducing high-level international programs tailored to the market demand and students’ aspirations, broadening their global horizons, enhancing their comprehensive competitiveness, and promoting SDC’s internationalization drive. To date, SDC has established partnerships with over 50 institutions across countries including Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the UK, Finland, Canada, Malaysia, Egypt, South Africa, Spain, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the Philippines, as well as China’s Hong Kong and Taiwan regions.

To leverage its strengths and Shanghai’s characteristics, SDC has boldly pioneered “Donghai Workshop” initiative. Guided by principles of equitable collaboration, skill-focused training, industry-education integration, and localized adaptation, the program is underpinned by refined internationalized teaching standards, with faculty training and tailored teaching resources as key supports. By setting up physical technical training platforms at overseas partner institutions, the Workshop cultivates local talents proficient in Chinese technologies, craftsmanship and products, boosting youth employment and socioeconomic development in partner countries.

The inaugural Donghai Workshop focuses on Chinese Culinary Arts (Shanghai-style Pastry), co-organized with the Shanghai Technician Association. National culinary masters deliver hands-on cooking training, while SDC’s faculty teach management and marketing courses. Through hybrid online and offline instruction, the Workshop trains first-rate versatile Chinese pastry chefs. Graduates receive joint certificates from SDC and the Association, qualifying them to teach hospitality or culinary programs at local universities, or launch their own businesses. They showcase the charm of Chinese cuisine and become sought-after professionals in their home countries. Going forward, Donghai Workshop will expand programs to meet local industrial talent needs, export China’s high-quality vocational education resources and models, and nurture localized technical talents with global vision, international rule literacy, creative thinking, and practical innovation capabilities.