The 2026 Industry-Education Integration Development Conference opened on Sept 21 in the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area in Qingdao, Shandong province. This brought together more than 500 representatives from government, industry, businesses, universities and research institutions.

Hosted by the Chinese Society of Educational Development Strategy, the third edition of the conference focused on how digital and intelligent technologies can deepen links between education and industry. Discussions covered emerging industries, new models of industry-education collaboration and international vocational education.

A series of cooperation agreements were signed during the event. The demonstration area and the society agreed to conduct joint research, share China's experience in industry-education integration and strengthen the training of internationally oriented technical and skilled professionals.

The demonstration area also signed agreements with local vocational colleges and enterprises to promote closer collaboration in talent development, technical training and industrial innovation.

The SCO International Skills Empowerment Center, jointly established by the demonstration area and Qingdao Technician College, was inaugurated at the conference. A plan for the SCO International Industry-Education Integration Innovation Base was also released.

In recent years, the demonstration area has expanded education and training programs combining language, culture, vocational skills and economic and trade studies, with a focus on strengthening talent exchanges with Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries.