Skilling for the Future (2020 Update)

A strategic partnership with Pearl River West InnoValley, a public-private venture of the Jiangmen Government, has also been established. Such collaboration allows the VTC to have greater access to the research institutes and industry partners in Jiangmen, and facilitates collaboration and knowledge exchange activities of both sides in data analytics, artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0, Internet-of-Things, and environmental technologies. Yangtze River Delta Located above the Pearl River Delta, the Yangtze River Delta is another economic zone which has been growing fast and receiving close attention in recent years. The Yangtze River Delta encompasses Shanghai and other cities located in the Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces including Nanjing, Taizhou, Yancheng, Hefei, Chuzhou, Maanshan, Wuhu, Tongling, Anqing, Chizhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Jinhua, Huzhou, Jiaxing, Shaoxing, and Zhoushan. Every year, Ningbo and Hong Kong co-organise a forum, with the two cities alternating host duties. Through this platform, the VTC has developed long-lasting partnerships with some of the city’s esteemed institutions, including Ningbo Polytechnic. Sichuan Province Adjacent cities located in the western part of Mainland China, Chengdu (the capital of Sichuan Province) and Chongqing own the strategic significance as transport hubs, as well as industrial, commercial, and financial centres of China’s western region. These cities also serve as the bridgehead for some countries to establish economic co-operation under the Belt and Road Initiative. The VTC’s earliest joint programme and exchange activities were also made with institutions in these areas. The VTC continues to maintain close connections with parties in these regions in order to facilitate industrial attachment, student exchange, and joint projects. The most recent Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Education Department of Sichuan Province in May 2018. Grooming the Next Generation Workforce 77