From May 27 to 28, an expert panel organized by the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), on behalf of the Ministry of Education, conducted an on-site quality accreditation review of YRCTU’s higher vocational education programs for international students. The panel was led by Gu Jianzheng, former Dean of the College of International Education at Harbin Institute of Technology. Members included Wang Hong, former Party Secretary of Nanjing Vocational Institute of Railway Technology and a member of CEAIE’s Committee for Accreditation Integrity; Li Yang, Director of CEAIE’s Membership Department; Zhao Fang, Office Director of the College of International Education at Zhejiang University of Science and Technology; and Chen Chen, the panel’s liaison and a project assistant from the Jiangsu Education Association for International Exchange.

The on-site review commenced with an opening briefing on the morning of May 27 in Conference Room 5 of the Administration Building. The session was attended by the full expert panel, all university leaders, heads of relevant administrative and academic units, and faculty representatives. The meeting was chaired by Vice President Jian Haoran.

University Party Secretary Zhou Baoping extended a warm welcome to the panel, providing an overview of the university’s history, its current development, and the status of its international student education. She emphasized that the accreditation serves as a comprehensive assessment of the university’s program quality and is crucial for advancing its internationalization and high-quality, mission-driven growth. She affirmed the university’s full cooperation and its commitment to learning from the panel’s expert guidance to continuously improve the quality of education for international students and contribute to the global outreach of vocational education in the new era.

Wang Hong explained the background and significance of the quality accreditation system. She noted that it provides a standardized framework for enhancing the quality and efficiency of international education in China, serving as a key measure to support the nation’s “Opening Up” strategy in education. She expressed her hope that the university would leverage this review to maximize the impact of its international programs and provide strong impetus for its development into a university of applied sciences.

Panel lead Gu Jianzheng outlined the procedures and requirements for the on-site review. He assured that the panel would strictly adhere to accreditation protocols and uphold the principles of professionalism, objectivity, and impartiality. With the aim of serving the university, the panel would conduct a thorough review of all aspects of the international student programs against the evaluation framework, providing objective analysis and constructive feedback to ensure an authoritative and professional outcome.

President Hu Hao delivered a work report titled “Leveraging Assessment to Enhance Quality and Forge a New Chapter.” He detailed the current state of international student education, the implementation of the self-assessment and improvement process, the university’s distinctive features, and its future development plans. He stated that the university will continue to deepen reforms and enhance its educational quality for international students, thereby contributing YRCTU’s unique strengths to the Belt and Road Initiative and China’s goal of becoming a global leader in education.

The opening briefing session

Zhou Baoping delivers remarks

Wang Hong delivers remarks

Gu Jianzheng speaks

Hu Hao presents the work report

During the on-site review, the expert panel conducted an in-depth assessment covering areas such as top-level design, institutional frameworks, teaching and learning, and management and support services for international student education. They engaged in extensive interviews with university leadership, heads of relevant administrative departments, leaders of academic schools, faculty members, and international student representatives. Through campus tours, document reviews, and classroom observations, the panel gained a comprehensive understanding of YRCTU’s international student programs.

Campus tour

Interview with university leadership

Interview with central administrative departments

Interviews with academic departments and schools

Interview with faculty members

Interview with international student representatives

Reviewing archival documents

Teaching observation

On the afternoon of May 28, a preliminary feedback session was held in Conference Room 5 of the Administration Building, chaired by President Hu Hao.

The preliminary feedback session

On behalf of the panel, Gu Jianzheng presented the initial findings. The experts highly commended YRCTU for its achievements in international student education, giving special praise to the development of its Dayu Schools, the establishment of international platforms, the creation of educational resources, the robust national conditions education system, and the welcoming campus atmosphere for international students. At the same time, the panel offered constructive recommendations for strengthening top-level strategic planning, refining curriculum design, optimizing student recruitment, and enhancing centralized management. Other panel members also provided their individual expert guidance.

Zhou Baoping delivered the university’s closing remarks. On behalf of YRCTU, she expressed sincere gratitude and high respect for the panel’s diligent work. She described the feedback as “fact-based and critically insightful,” acknowledging its immense guiding value for the university’s internationalization and international student education. She affirmed that the university would meticulously review each recommendation, formulate a detailed action plan, and ensure that all corrective measures are implemented effectively. “We have the determination and confidence,” she concluded, “with the panel’s guidance, to continuously improve our student quality, deepen educational reforms, optimize our support services, and further enhance the quality and impact of our international student education, thereby writing a new chapter in our journey of internationalization.”