From 22 to 27 September 2026, Shanghai became an international platform bringing together representatives of vocational education, business, industry and the expert community within the framework of the 48th WorldSkills Competition. Participants from dozens of countries gathered at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai, demonstrating not only a high level of professional excellence, but also modern approaches to the development of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) systems.

For the College of Print Media Technologies, the visit to Shanghai was more than an opportunity to experience the scale of the WorldSkills Competition. The business programme was filled with meetings, professional discussions, visits to educational and industry-oriented sites, and discussions on specific areas for further cooperation with Chinese partners.

On 24 September 2026, E.M. Abishayev, Head of the Almaty City Delegation, delivered a presentation at the International Seminar on Cooperation in Vocational Education in Eurasia, “Future-Oriented Vocational Education: The Bi Sheng Workshop”, held within the WorldSkills 2026 conference “Building a Skills-Based Future”.

The presentation highlighted Kazakhstan’s experience in developing technical and vocational education and international cooperation with China. Particular attention was paid to the digital transformation of vocational education, the development of modern professional competencies, and the creation of effective mechanisms for international cooperation.

In her subsequent speech, G.A. Abdullayeva, Director of the Municipal State Enterprise “College of Print Media Technologies”, emphasised that international cooperation is gradually moving from the traditional exchange of experience towards the joint design of educational content and the formation of a unified professional space. This approach involves combining the educational resources, professional competencies, modern technologies and practical experience of the two countries.

The presentation demonstrated the practical orientation of Kazakhstan–China cooperation in TVET and its focus on training specialists capable of working effectively in a digital economy and rapidly changing labour market. Participation in the international seminar became another step towards strengthening professional partnership between Kazakhstan and China and creating new opportunities for students, educators and educational institutions.

The conference brought together more than 120 representatives of vocational education organisations, enterprises and education authorities from China, Russia, Kazakhstan and other countries. The discussions focused on the internationalisation of vocational education, the integration of education and production, workforce training for the modern economy, and the development of international cooperation.

For the College of Print Media Technologies, it was particularly important to discuss these issues in a professional environment where publishing, printing, digital media and modern technologies are viewed as an integrated space for workforce training. Today, the printing industry is changing rapidly. Traditional technologies are being complemented by digital production, automation, intelligent design systems, artificial intelligence, digital publishing and new formats of visual content.

Therefore, a modern specialist must not only master technological operations, but also understand the interconnection between design, digital tools, production and labour-market requirements. This approach is becoming the foundation of international professional dialogue.

One of the key elements of Kazakhstan–China interaction during WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 was the ceremonial signing of an additional cooperation agreement between the College of Print Media Technologies and Shanghai Publishing and Printing College. The signing took place on the stage of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) on 24 September 2026.

The business meeting materials note that cooperation projects are already being implemented in such areas as training in printing technologies, professional development of educators, combining Chinese-language learning with professional skills, and academic exchanges. Promising areas include the joint development of standards, exchanges of teachers and students, and industry-specific technological services in printing, digital publishing, intelligent design and environmentally friendly printing.

For the College of Print Media Technologies, particularly promising areas are those at the intersection of printing, design, digital production and artificial intelligence. It is here that new professional roles and competencies are emerging for today’s students to master.

The Shanghai experience shows that modern vocational education develops where colleges, enterprises, technologies and the international professional community work in the same direction. Therefore, participation in WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 events is, above all, an opportunity for the College of Print Media Technologies to view its own educational practices in an international context.

For vocational education teachers, the competition is of interest not only as a contest. It is a kind of living laboratory of future requirements for specialists. It provides an opportunity to see which operations are becoming digital, how the content of professional competencies is changing, how the quality of practical tasks is assessed, and how educational organisations interact with industry.

It is particularly noteworthy that the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 programme included new competencies related to digital and intelligent technologies, including Digital Interactive Media Design, software testing, intelligent security technology and other areas.

The business programme in Shanghai also provided a space to discuss concrete prospects for further cooperation. The areas identified included joint training, the development of educational standards and programmes, the exchange of digital resources, academic mobility of teachers and students, international professional skills competitions, improving the digital literacy of educators, and the development of digital media.

This approach makes it possible to view international cooperation not as a separate item on a calendar of events, but as part of the systematic development of a vocational college.

WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 once again demonstrated that professional excellence today extends far beyond national education systems. The international agenda brings together skills development, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, cooperation between education and industry, and the need for continuous renewal of competencies. For the College of Print Media Technologies, WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 became a space for professional dialogue and new contacts, creating an opportunity to continue work on joint educational initiatives.