Event Review | VI Model SCO

On 20 December 2020, Weihai Vocational College hosted the VI Model SCO interactive game with the theme, ” Vocational Education development in SCO member states: Opportunities and Challenges.” The event, organised by the SCOLAR Network Youth Platform, was held both online and in person. It was attended by 18 delegates from nine countries of the SCO region, who joined via videoconference from 11 cities. The delegates represented the SCO member states and the Secretariat.

Opening the event, SCO Deputy Secretary-General Sherali Saidamir Jonon delivered a welcome message from SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov. He said the SCO Model, which has already become traditional, is expanding every year, covering more countries, cities and educational institutions.

Mr. Jonon noted the urgency and relevance of developing vocational education in the SCO countries. Vocational education requires constant modernisation and improvement; it becomes a decisive link in the formation of a society based on professional skills, intelligence and self-development.

The attention of the SCO heads of state to youth policy, education and the development of their entrepreneurial qualities, which were outlined in the Moscow Declaration at this year’s meeting, was emphasized sed. The leaders of the SCO member states stressed the importance of developing special education and acceleration programmes that will help increase the competence of young people in various economic activities in the SCO space.

Weihai Vocational College Rector Li Yaohua also delivered a welcome speech, wishing the delegates good luck in the upcoming conference. He noted that Weihai Vocational College is open to the SCO member states, maintains close relations with the SCO Secretariat and has demonstrated efficiency in establishing a dialogue in the field of vocational education when organising the 1st SCO Vocational Skills Contest, which was held in November 2019.

Olesya Dovgalyuk, head of the SCOLAR Academy project, addressed the delegates with a welcome speech on behalf of the SCOLAR Network. She expressed gratitude to the SCO Secretary-General and the SCO Secretariat for supporting the Model SCO project. Ms Dovgalyuk spoke about the relevance of obtaining practical skills in vocational education for young people in the SCO region, and drew a parallel with the Model SCO, where participants also study the functioning and work of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

The delegates of the Model SCO gave reports on the development of vocational education in the region. They discussed the declaration with proposed initiatives from the delegations. In particular, they discussed developing a vocational education programme for women in the SCO countries, creating a single international certificate upon completion of a vocational education, as well as developing a platform for young talents in the SCO region.

In his closing remarks SCO Deputy Secretary-General Sherali Jonon noted that the delegates’ ideas testify to the young people’s deep and conscious thinking, their desire and ability to show their intellectual abilities not only within a given role-playing game, but also in real public work for the benefit of their countries and for the entire SCO family.