LocationsBelarusian Educators Explore China’s Agricultural Innovations to Modernize Vocational Training
April 30, 2025
In a bid to modernize its vocational education system with agricultural innovations, a delegation from Belarus embarked on an eight-day educational visit to China in March. The trip focused on studying the introduction of cutting-edge agricultural technologies into the system of professional education, as well as on fostering international collaboration between Belarusian colleges and Chinese educational establishments and enterprises.
According to the 2024 study, Belarus, like many countries, faces the transformative impact of digitalization, automation, and robotics on agriculture. Experts predict that the use of precision farming, artificial intelligence, digital twins, and Big Data systems will become increasingly prevalent in Belarus over the next decade.
“The integration of advanced technologies into vocational training programmes is essential to preparing the workforce of the future," said Valery Golubovsky, Rector of the Republican Institute of Vocational Education (RIPO). “Our visit to China was a strategic step to learn from international best practices and establish partnerships for designing joint courses on applying new technologies in agriculture.”
Drawing on international expertise and direct collaboration with innovators helps develop training programs for the “jobs of tomorrow”. During their visit, the Belarusian delegation held over 10 meetings with key stakeholders, including vocational education leaders, agricultural enterprises in Hainan Province, and officials from China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the Center for Vocational Education under the Ministry of Education.
The Belarusian experts examined a range of transformative technologies, including the use of drones for land cultivation, precision farming systems, and the operation of “smart farms” that leverage digital solutions for livestock, poultry, and crop production. They also explored scientific advancements in breeding techniques aimed at increasing yields and improving the genetic quality of farm animals.
For China, the visit underscored its commitment to fostering international collaboration in vocational education.
“Exchanging knowledge with Belarusian colleagues is crucial for building a strong foundation for future partnerships in agricultural training, teacher development, and student exchanges,” said An Jue, Vice-Rector of the Agricultural Institute of Hainan Province. “Such initiatives exemplify how collaboration can bridge the gap between education and technology in agriculture.”
Another key focus of the visit was China’s approach to developing professional skills through competitions. In Belarus, as in many countries, skills competitions play a vital role in vocational education, helping young people acquire the competencies needed in an era of rapid technological change.
Participating in competitions provides an opportunity to exchange knowledge with international colleagues and build a global professional network. This year, Chinese experts will take part in the VI Republican Professional Skills Competition "ProfSkills Belarus 2025", held in Minsk from 23 to 25 May. The Chinese delegation will compete in 22 skill categories and participate in the event’s business program.
The trip identified key areas for collaboration between Belarusian colleges and Chinese vocational education institutions and enterprises. The insights gained will inform the implementation of Belarus’s strategy for developing its secondary specialized and vocational education system.
The educational visit was organized within the framework of the Developing Youth Innovation Potential for Accelerated Sustainable Development project, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Belarus in partnership with the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus and the Republican Institute of Professional Education with the financial support of the Russian Federation.
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