On December 12, the inaugural meeting of Yichang Three Gorges Vocational Education Group was held in the urban area, which signifies the formal establishment of the Group headed by the Three Gorges Vocational and Technical College. Wang Yinghua, the representative from Yichang Municipal Government, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.

　　Mr. Wang points out that the establishment of Yichang Three Gorges Vocational Education Group is the city\'s another significant initiative for boosting the rapid and scientific development of vocational education after the basic completion of the integration of the secondary vocational educational resources and near completion of vocational park\'s first-phase construction. The Group aims to strengthen the cooperation among the city\'s vocational schools, enterprises, industry associations, and research institutions, and develop a diversified school system in which vocational schools play the dominating role and are supported by enterprises. The ultimate goal is to achieve the integration of production and education, school-enterprise cooperation, and enhance the ability and level of vocational education in serving local economic development.

　　Wang also points out that the healthy development of the Yichang Three Gorges Vocational Education Group requires a close cooperation between relevant departments, industries and enterprises, vocational schools and different social sectors. The Group should aim at training skilled personnel who can contribute to the industrial development of the city. To this end, the traditional vocational school system must be reformed in order to establish modern vocational educational system. In the meantime, a comprehensive and effective operational system for the Group should be established, and the annual plan should be worked out on the basis of careful study and be implemented in every industry-academic cooperation committee to ensure that the Group is managed effectively in accordance with the laws and regulations. Moreover, the Group should carry out the responsibility in providing high-quality personnel oriented to needs of the regional economic development.

　　Han Defeng, the Party secretary of Hubei Three Gorges Vocational and Technical College, was elected as the chairman of the Group. (Reporter: Cao Yu)