The Opening Ceremony of Online Training Course for Auto Maintenance Faculty, Grenada - Zhejiang (Ningbo), China, was held successfully on the morning of March 9, after meticulous preparation by the Foreign Affairs Office of Ningbo Municipality People’s Government, Ningbo University of Technology, T.A. Marryshow Community College (TAMCC), Ningbo Yinzhou Vocational High School and the Confucius Institute at TAMCC. The attendees included the following officials from China: Mr. Wei Hongtian, Chinese Ambassador to Grenada; Mr. Gu Jianxin, Deputy-Director of Department of Foreign Affairs of Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government; Mr. Ye Rongzhong, Director of Foreign Affairs Office of Ningbo Municipal People’s Government; Professor Shao Qianjun, President of Ningbo University of Technology; Mr. Wang Zhiyong, Principal of Ningbo Yinzhou Vocational High School. From Grenada, the following officials were in attendance: Mr. Victor Philip, Senator of Grenada; Mr. Norman Gilbert, Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Human Resources Development, Religious Affairs and Information;  and Dr. Ronald Brunton, Principal of T.A. Marryshow Community College.  

In his speech, Ambassador Wei Hongtian said that since the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Grenada 17 years ago, bilateral cooperation has yielded fruitful results, especially in the fields of education and human resources training. He said that vocational training guides people to strive for a better life and welfare with their own hands, and the Training Course for Auto Maintenance Faculty is a milestone in the further deepening of China-Grenada vocational training cooperation.

Mr. Gu Jianxin reviewed the cooperation between Zhejiang and Grenada, stating that the training course is another high-quality project of practical exchanges and cooperation between the two regions. Both parties will exchange technical experience in the automotive maintenance field, apply what they learn, and enhance friendship through this program. It is hoped that this training course will provide an opportunity for Zhejiang and Grenada to deepen cooperation in the fields of economy and people's livelihood.  

Senator Victor Philip and Principal Ronald Brunton, thanked all the attendees for organizing the class, saying that the training course will enhance the professional skills of Grenadian youths, improve the employment competitiveness, and contribute to both the community and the whole country of Grenada. They promised to continue to support the development of sustainable partnership between China and Grenada, and promote the development of more exchange and cooperation opportunities between both countries.

Relying on the existing teaching platform of Confucius Institute at TAMCC, this training course is aimed at improving teachers' professional quality and training more professional and technical personnel for the local communities. Ningbo University of Technology and Ningbo Yinzhou Vocational High School will organize key teachers of auto repair to teach industriously, and optimize the content of existing teaching materials according to the characteristics of the foreign students. The teaching will be carried out in two stages from March to June and From September to December in 2022.  

The establishment of this training course is also a milestone in the development of the Confucius Institute at TAMCC toward "Chinese + Vocational and Technical Skills" education.