STORY: Chinese vocational workshop helps foster skilled workforce in Portugal
DATELINE: Oct. 16, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:06
LOCATION: TIANJIN, China
CATEGORY: TECHNOLOGY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Tianjin Vocational College of Mechanics and Electricity and students studying in the Luban Workshop
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HUGO FRAZZO, Graduate of Polytechnic Institute of Setubal
3. various of the students studying in the Luban Workshop
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZHANG WEIJIN, President of Tianjin Vocational College of Mechanics and Electricity

STORYLINE:

The Luban Workshop, named after Lu Ban, an ancient Chinese woodcraft master, is a Chinese vocational workshop program training talent overseas.

In Portugal, a Luban Workshop was co-founded by the Polytechnic Institute of Setubal (IPS) and Tianjin Vocational College of Mechanics and Electricity in north China's Tianjin Municipality in 2018.

It is the first of its kind on the European continent, and mainly offers two majors -- electrical automation and industrial robotics.

Hugo Frazzo, a graduate of IPS, took two short training trips to Tianjin for Luban Workshop's training program.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HUGO FRAZZO, Graduate of Polytechnic Institute of Setubal
"I want to say that the Luban experience is something that you carry out with your life, because it prepares you for future situations. As an example, I can say that after my bachelor's, I felt more confident to start working in a practical environment. Because in the Luban Workshop, I did not only gain knowledge, but also made friends for life. It creates a lot of memories, and a lot of good times. So I recommend to any student, any teacher to be part of this project."

Under the guidance of China's Ministry of Education, the Luban Workshop project is initiated and promoted by Tianjin Municipality, which provides both degree education and vocational training.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZHANG WEIJIN, President of Tianjin Vocational College of Mechanics and Electricity
"We have transferred our advanced teaching equipment, professional standards and teaching resources to a developed country, testifying that China's vocational education has made remarkable achievements after decades of development."

Since the very first Luban Workshop in the world was established in Thailand in 2016, a total of 21 have been built in 20 countries.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Tianjin, China.
(XHTV)