Teachers at Hebei Vocational University of Software guide Thai international students in computer practical training (Photo taken on January 6). Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Ban Jingyi)

Xinhua News Agency, Shijiazhuang, January 10 (Reporter Gao Bo) — Inside the E-commerce Industrial Park at Hebei Vocational University of Software Technology, Pili Sa stood in front of a mobile phone screen, introducing Baoding's specialty products to online audiences in Thai via live streaming.

"When I first came to China, I was a 'beginner' in the cross-border e-commerce field, but now I can conduct live streams independently," said the student from the Computer Science program at Thammasat University's Faculty of Technology in Thailand. She took the opportunity to study in China for a year because of her love for the Chinese language.

In March 2025, Pilsa arrived at the Zhong Thai Zu Chongzhi College of Hebei Vocational University of Software Technology to study. The college operates under a "two countries, three parties" cooperation model, jointly run by Hebei Vocational University of Software Technology, Thai partner institutions, and Chinese enterprises in Thailand.

"Besides theoretical learning, Chinese teachers often take us to factories for visits and to live-streaming bases for study, providing us with many practical opportunities," said Pili Sa. Through these hands-on experiences, she mastered live-streaming techniques and learned video editing and graphic design.

In 2025, the Zucchi Institute of Hebei Vocational University of Software Technology received 20 Thai international students from partner institutions such as the Rangsit University of Technology and Thonburi University of Commerce. Ten faculty members from Hebei Vocational University of Software Technology were officially appointed as invited training lecturers by Thonburi University of Commerce, delivering two offline series of "Chinese + Vocational Skills" training sessions and cultural exchange activities for Thai student groups.

R1: "Internet Plus" must be translated as "Internet plus."  

Wang Ziyue, a teacher of international students in the Internet Commerce Department at Hebei Vocational University of Software Technology, stated that the school actively aligns with local employment demands in overseas markets, cultivating Thai-native talent and technical expertise. These Thai students gain an understanding of Chinese culture, acquire knowledge and skills, and secure more development opportunities. Upon graduation, they will be welcomed by both local enterprises and Chinese-funded companies in Thailand.

Teachers at Hebei Vocational University of Software guide Thai international students in live-streaming sales (Photo taken on January 6). Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Ban Jingyi)

In recent years, an increasing number of Chinese enterprises have ventured into the global market, with ASEAN countries, represented by Thailand, serving as the first stepping stone for many Chinese companies to expand overseas. The internationalization of vocational education plays a crucial role in supporting the global expansion of Chinese enterprises.

Zhang Guoli, deputy director of the International Cooperation Center of Hebei Software Vocational and Technical College, said that in recent years, the college has actively implemented the "the Belt and Road" initiative, adhered to the concept of "teaching with output, school enterprise peer", deeply integrated Chinese ability training with e-commerce, big data and accounting and other characteristic vocational skills training, formed a "language+skills" dual wheel driven training model, and constantly expanded the breadth and depth of international cooperation in vocational education.

It is reported that more and more Thai vocational colleges have joined the school enterprise alliance of Hebei Software Vocational and Technical College. Currently, China and Thailand have jointly formulated teaching standards, 32 course standards, and 60 practical training standards for multiple majors such as animation production technology, mechatronics technology, e-commerce, computer network technology, big data and accounting.

The case of Hebei Software Vocational and Technical College is a microcosm of China's "vocational education going global". In recent years, the exchange and cooperation between China and ASEAN in the field of vocational education have been continuously deepening.

In December 2023, the China Indonesia Intelligent Transport Equipment Modern Craftsman College, jointly established by LiuGong Indonesia, Liuzhou Vocational and Technical University, and Jakarta National Institute of Technology, was officially launched within Jakarta National Institute of Technology. In November 2024, the first training center in Thailand dedicated to talent development in new energy vehicles, jointly established by Chinese car company GAC, Northeastern Royal Institute of Technology, Thailand's Zhile International Education Group, and Tencent, was officially put into operation

While vocational education is going global with enterprises, "Made in China" is also accelerating towards ASEAN. Taking Baoding as an example, Chinese companies such as Great Wall Motors and Lizhong Wheel Group, headquartered in Baoding, have established factories in Thailand's Thailand China Rayong Industrial Park.

Nowadays, not only are China's new energy vehicles popular in Thailand, but China's beauty products and trendy toys are also very popular, especially favored by young people. "Pirissa said that in the future, she wants to bring back the e-commerce experience she learned in China to Thailand, and through e-commerce, better flow and exchange of high-quality products between China and Thailand.

Editor: Jiang Yani