Shaoxing Vocational & Technical College Delegation Visits Malaysia and Thailand

In 2024, to jointly build the Belt and Road cooperation platform and elevate the college’s level of opening-up in education, Shaoxing Vocational & Technical College launched the Silk Road Journey. From May 12 to 18, Shen Lihua, Party Secretary of SXVTC, led a delegation on an exchange visit to Malaysia and Thailand. The delegation included Yang Yan, College Consulor, Xu Zefang, Deputy Director of the International Exchange and Cooperation Center, and Chen Xiaoping, Vice Dean of the Medical School.

On May 13, the delegation visited Lincoln University College, Malaysia. The meeting was attended by President Amiya Bhaumik, Vice President Dato’ Dr Bibi Florina, Vice President Datin Dr. Hafizah Che Hassan DVC, Dean of the Nursing School Dr Santhna Letchmi Panduragan, Vice Dean Pn Fatimah Yahya, and nursing faculty members. Both sides aligned and optimized curricula for high-quality development of the Sino-foreign cooperative nursing program. They conducted in-depth discussions on the construction of the Belt and Road Silk Road Institute — Yueyi Institute, the establishment of the TCM Medicinal Cuisine Research and Innovation Workshop, and the follow-up work of the Silk Road Institute (Healthcare and Elderly Care) School-Enterprise Alliance. A Memorandum of Cooperation on IELTS Training Programs was also signed.

Shen Lihua pointed out that the two institutions have laid a solid foundation for cooperation. The jointly-run higher vocational nursing program is set to welcome its first cohort of graduates this year. The construction of the Yueyi Institute and the TCM Medicinal Cuisine Workshop are progressing steadily, with frequent teacher exchanges and academic seminars. She expressed the hope that both sides would further collaborate in student exchange programs, IELTS training, teacher research cooperation and Silk Road Institute development to write a new chapter of partnership.

Amiya Bhaumik, President of Lincoln University College, extended a warm welcome to the delegation. He remarked that the cooperation between Lincoln University College and Shaoxing Vocational & Technical College serves as a model of in-depth and effective collaboration. Both institutions are committed to advancing high-quality Sino-foreign cooperative education and the construction of the Yueyi Institute by delivering tangible outcomes, and have forged profound friendship through joint efforts.

To better promote the global dissemination of traditional Chinese medicine culture, the delegation visited local clinics and TCM pharmacies to investigate the current situation and market demand of TCM in Malaysia, as well as relevant medical insurance policies. In-depth exchanges were held with Alex, Secretary-General of the Malaysian Chinese Medicine Association, laying a solid foundation for further developing the Yueyi Institute.

On May 17, the delegation visited Krirk University, Thailand. The guests were warmly received by Supat, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Luo Yong, Assistant to the President and Dean of the Chinese Language and Culture College; Lin Yanhua from the Department of Public Health; Wang Yifei from the International College; and Sun Liyun, faculty member of the Chinese International Language and Culture College. Based on the actual development of both institutions, the two sides discussed future cooperation plans and had detailed exchanges on the follow-up advancement of the Silk Road Institute (Healthcare and Elderly Care) School-Enterprise Alliance.

The delegation also visited the University History Museum of Krirk University to gain a deeper understanding of its development journey and school-running characteristics. The visit not only deepened the friendship between the two institutions, but also laid a solid foundation for future in-depth cooperation and exchanges.

During the trip, the delegation visited an alternative medicine clinic under the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand. Mr. Xu Haiquan from the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Ministry of Public Health, received the group and gave a detailed introduction to the current development and future trends of traditional Chinese medicine in Thailand.

The clinic houses both Thai traditional medicine and TCM outpatient departments. As integral parts of the institution, they provide residents with diversified medical treatment options. The visit enhanced mutual understanding and friendship, and offered new insights for the promotion and application of TCM in Thailand.

The official visit to Malaysia and Thailand further strengthened friendship with partner universities and enriched the connotation of bilateral cooperation. It provides strong support for the university to steadily advance the construction of the Silk Road Institute (Healthcare and Elderly Care) School-Enterprise Alliance and boost the overseas development of traditional Chinese medicine. This Silk Road Journey has embodied the spirit of openness, inclusiveness and collaboration, and advanced win-win cooperation among universities along the Belt and Road.