On May 24, the China (Ningbo)-Slovakia Education Cooperation Matchmaking Conference was grandly held at the Pan Pacific Ningbo Hotel. During the conference, our university officially signed the "China-Slovakia Talent Cross-border Internship and Employment Cooperation Agreement" with the Bratislava University of Economics and Management and the Slovak Pangeana Enterprises Alliance, jointly launching the "China-Slovakia Cross-border Internship and Employment Cooperation Action Plan." This move marks a solid and crucial step forward in educational cooperation and talent exchange between China and Slovakia.
During the conference, President Wang Haohan of our university, Fang Jun, Chairman of the Commission on Chinese-foreign Cooperation in Education, China Education Association for International Exchange (CCCE-CEAIE), Igor Pacolák, Consul General of the Slovak Republic in Shanghai, Shu Peidong, Deputy Director-General of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education, Lucia Skvareninova, Economic Counsellor of the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in China, Michal Fabus, Vice Rector of the Bratislava University of Economics and Management, and other guests delivered speeches, expressing their hopes for deepening educational cooperation and enhancing talent exchange between China and Slovakia.
Remark by Shu Peidong, Deputy Director-General of Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education
Shu Peidong emphasized that Central and Eastern Europe serves as a vital hub connecting Eurasia and plays a crucial role in international educational exchanges. Zhejiang has long attached great importance to educational cooperation with Central and Eastern European countries and has launched diverse programs including faculty-student exchanges, cooperative education, overseas schooling, and joint research. Shu highlighted the stable partnership established between Ningbo University of Finance & Economics and Bratislava University of Economics and Management. The Department of Education of Zhejiang Province will continue to optimize its services, build platforms, encourage Sino-foreign pragmatic collaborations, promote mutual benefit and win-win results, and advance education cooperation between Zhejiang and Central and Eastern European countries to a new level.
Remark by Fang Jun, Chairman of the Commission on Chinese-foreign Cooperation in Education, China Education Association for International Exchange (CCCE-CEAIE)
"Sino-Central and Eastern European education cooperation is a highlight of China’s educational opening-up. Ningbo is one of the most important platform cities in China for such cooperation. Promoting high-level international education openness is a priority for China’s educational development. Currently, pursuing cross-border integration of industry and education on Ningbo's China-CEEC cooperation platform is a forward-looking and innovative initiative," Fang Jun said at the opening ceremony. He emphasized that the launch of the China-Slovakia Cross-border Internship and Employment Cooperation Action Plan is both a practical implementation of the national strategy to "deepen industry-education integration and promote educational opening" and a new platform for youth from both countries to share opportunities in globalization. He believes this plan will enable seamless student-to-international-career transitions and further promote technological exchange and industrial cooperation between China and Slovakia.
Launching the "China-Slovakia Cross-border Internship and Employment Cooperation Action Plan"
According to the agreement, the three parties will focus on building three cooperation platforms: First, an internship and practice platform for two-way product exchange, offering Chinese students international internships in cross-border e-commerce, trade, and related fields within Slovak companies under the Pangeana Enterprises Alliance, while helping Slovak companies enter the Chinese market through livestream bases and other channels. Second, an applied talent training platform, focusing on international marketing and trade skills, will jointly develop a micro-major in "China-EU Business" to train interdisciplinary talents proficient in Chinese and familiar with EU standards. Third, an industry-university collaborative innovation platform, integrating educational, industrial, and innovation chains, will annually assign internship students to the Slovak Pangeana Enterprises Alliance with priority employment opportunities for outstanding graduates.
This cooperation is the result of eight years of groundwork, from establishing an educational partnership to jointly founding the "China-Slovakia Silk Road College." The college was listed under Zhejiang’s “Belt and Road Silk Road Academy” program in 2022 and was officially unveiled by high-level officials from both ministries of education in December 2024.
"The 'Ningcai Model' developed through eight years of cooperation has laid a solid foundation of trust and rich resources for this cross-border internship and employment collaboration, and has also explored a pragmatic pathway for deep integration of education and industry between China and Slovakia," said President Wang Haohan. He pointed out that this initiative not only inherits the tradition of Sino-Slovak friendship, but also undertakes the mission of exploring new paths for international educational and industrial synergy. Ningbo University of Finance & Economics is dedicated to closely linking the education and industrial value chains, aligning talent and innovation chains, and cultivating versatile talents with global vision and practical skills. Moving forward, the university will coordinate the sharing of quality educational resources, promote smooth two-way flow of resources, provide comprehensive policy consulting and networking services for youth from both countries, and strive to build a model for education-powered high-quality China-Slovakia economic cooperation.
Marian Jakubis, founder of the Slovak Pangeana Enterprises Alliance, expressed his high expectations: "There is a growing job market demand for Chinese students in Slovakia. If these interns eventually become permanent employees, it would be a great pleasure. I also see huge potential in university cooperation: students from both countries could collaborate on the platforms we are building, which will naturally foster exchange programs and deepen future cooperation and mutual understanding."
Vice President Shen Yunci Chairs the Event
After the launch ceremony, guests participated in a product showcase and informal exchanges between the university and enterprises. Slovak companies displayed featured products such as food and handicrafts, while students conducted live e-commerce demonstrations on site, vividly presenting the innovative "internship + market promotion" model outlined in the agreement.
Roundtable Discussion
Zhang Haibo delivers keynote speech
Yao Niao’er delivers keynote speech
In the afternoon, a roundtable discussion was held to explore pathways for in-depth integration of China-Slovakia education and industry. Professor Zhang Haibo from the Business School of Ningbo University and Director of the Center for Industry Cooperation at the Institute of Central and Eastern European Economic and Trade Cooperation, delivered a keynote report entitled "Deepening Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe under the New Situation". Yao Niao’er, Associate Dean of the College of Accounting (Wealth Management School) of our university, delivered a keynote speech entitled "Digital Silk Road, Smart Future: A New Landscape of Digital Technology Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe."
Written by: Wang Yiqun, Office of Communications, and Zhu Fengmei, Office of International Cooperation; Photography: Wang Wei and Xu Kaiyang, Office of Communications; Reviewed by: Zhang Haifeng, Office of Communications