UNESCO BRIDGE Program Training Delegation from 9 Asian and African Countries Benchmarks Suwon's Vocational Education

Suwon Special City (Mayor Lee Jae-jun) hosted the UNESCO BRIDGE program training delegation on the 16th, introducing the city's vocational education policies and operational cases, and organizing field visit programs.

The delegation consisted of a total of 20 people, including 9 education professionals from 9 Asian and African countries—Laos, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, East Timor, Sri Lanka, Jordan, Pakistan, and Côte d'Ivoire—as well as officials from the UNESCO Korea National Commission and youth bridge participants.

Lee Min-hee, Director of Labor and Employment Policy at Suwon City, introduced the delegation to the city's vocational education policies and major projects.

The training delegation examined vocational education and job-linking cases for mid-career professionals at the Suwon Mid-Career Center, including the operation of mid-career instructor groups, the "demand-first, education-later" project that identifies employment needs before designing curricula, and career competency enhancement education. They also participated in traditional craft experiences and discussions, sharing methods of operating educational programs.

At Cyber University of Korea, the delegation observed region-linked educational programs, including specialized Korean language education expert training and senior model training. The trainees received explanations on program development, learner management, and regional institution collaboration methods and exchanged views with practitioners.

The UNESCO BRIDGE program is an official development assistance (ODA) and development cooperation project promoted by the UNESCO Korea National Commission to support disadvantaged populations in developing countries and reduce global education gaps. From 2010 to 2025, it has supported 203,587 people through educational programs and 11,752 teachers and related officials through training in 25 countries.

Kim Hyun-soo, First Vice Mayor of Suwon, said, "We hope that this visit will serve as an opportunity for Suwon City and vocational education institutions in UNESCO member countries and cities to continue exchanging and cooperating in the fields of education and talent development."