Feature: Tajik students chase tech dreams in north China

TIANJIN, June 23 (Xinhua) -- At the intelligent surveying and mapping training center of Tianjin Urban Construction Management Vocational and Technical College in north China, 21-year-old Tajik student Jonibek Ismoilov was busy adjusting equipment parameters.

He and his classmates were setting up circuits, monitoring data and recording measurement results, while conversations in both Chinese and Russian were echoing through the classroom.

In September 2024, Ismoilov and seven other students became the first group of students from the Luban Workshop in Tajikistan to come to this northern Chinese municipality for study. After completing the first two years of courses at the local Luban Workshop, they arrived in China as the first batch of students in the "2 plus 2" joint training program, where they continued to study skills including the operation and maintenance of engineering surveying instruments, new power systems and wind-solar hybrid systems.

Lu Ban, an outstanding craftsman and inventor who lived more than 2,500 years ago in China, is a symbol of the wisdom, innovation and craftsmanship of the Chinese people, representing superb technical skills, a commitment to excellence and a spirit of continuous innovation.

The Luban Workshop is an international vocational education brand originally created and promoted by Tianjin Municipality. Combining academic education with vocational training, it provides advanced training facilities and equipment, sends Chinese teachers and technicians to train instructors locally, and invites them to China for exchanges and hands-on learning, all in an effort to cultivate technical talent.

In March 2022, the Luban Workshop in Tajikistan was jointly launched by Tianjin Urban Construction Management Vocational and Technical College and Tajik Technical University, and it began operation in November of the same year.

In its first phase, the workshop focused on urban heating application technology and engineering surveying, with two integrated teaching areas combining theory and practice: a green energy training center and an intelligent surveying and mapping training center.

"The Luban Workshop gave us the opportunity to come to China to study. It focuses not only on theoretical learning, but also on hands-on practice. We can operate the equipment ourselves and take part in training sessions, which has helped me truly understand how professional knowledge is applied in real engineering projects," Ismoilov said.

Ismoilov has systematically studied practical courses related to surveying engineering. From precise instrument operation to standardized circuit installation and real-time data monitoring, he has gradually mastered professional skills through repeated practice.

Now, Ismoilov can read professional materials fluently and complete practical courses independently. After completing his current studies, he plans to pursue a master's degree in Tianjin, focusing on advanced surveying technologies.

Another student benefiting from the Luban Workshop training system is Bakhtiyor Bozorzoda from Tajik Technical University. When he first enrolled, he felt uncertain about his major in geodesy and cartography. However, the advanced surveying equipment, digital mapping technologies and virtual simulation courses at the local Luban Workshop helped him rediscover the potential of the field and sparked his interest in surveying.

During his studies, Bozorzoda gained hands-on experience with high-precision instruments and digital mapping technologies. He also came to Tianjin for practical training and skills competitions, where he learned about China's advanced surveying equipment and modern engineering practices, further strengthening his career aspirations.

"I hope to continue my studies in China in the future, learn more advanced surveying technologies, and contribute to infrastructure development in Tajikistan," Bozorzoda said.

Today, the Luban Workshop in Tajikistan has been operating for nearly four years, providing learning and training opportunities for more than 2,900 undergraduate and graduate students. Its teaching programs cover nine departments and 13 majors, including civil engineering and architecture.

Meanwhile, increasingly close exchanges between vocational education practitioners from China and Tajikistan have continued to improve the workshop's teaching quality.

Since 2022, Wu Zhengpeng, a teacher from Tianjin Urban Construction Management Vocational and Technical College, has embarked on a "two-way journey" across the Pamir Mountains. As a Chinese instructor at the Luban Workshop in Tajikistan, he has provided teacher training there using advanced Chinese instruments and comprehensive teaching resources, building a learning platform more closely aligned with industrial practice for local teachers and students.

"This is not a one-way transfer. We communicate fully with Tajik teachers, jointly develop teaching plans and explore teaching approaches. Through continuous exchanges, we are working together to find talent training models that better meet local needs," Wu said.

A total of 25 Tajik teachers have also participated in various training programs in China. "Chinese teachers are both mentors and friends to us. They have offered many valuable ideas during teaching exchanges. Modern training equipment and specialized courses have greatly increased students' enthusiasm for learning," said Parviz Khujaev, a professor at Tajik Technical University.

Qudrat Davlatzoda, president of the university, said the Luban Workshop is a model of mutual respect and pragmatic cooperation between Tajikistan and China.

"It has not only brought us valuable experience and deep friendship, but also significantly improved the university's teaching and research capabilities, injecting new momentum into its development," he said.

To meet the needs of local industrial development, Tianjin Urban Construction Management Vocational and Technical College has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with more than 10 Chinese-funded enterprises operating in Tajikistan, establishing an industry-education collaborative training alliance. The program aims to provide targeted talent training and short- to medium-term vocational skills training for enterprise employees.

Li Qingbin, Party secretary of the college, said the Luban Workshop in Tajikistan has filled a gap in China-Tajikistan cooperation in vocational and technical education.

"It has provided urgently needed human resources support for local economic and social development, and built a bridge for people-to-people connectivity and mutual learning between the two countries, helping more young people grow into 'Silk Road craftsmen' serving the Belt and Road Initiative," Li said.