The International Labor Organization(ILO), in partnership with Microsoft, has successfully initiated the AI-VIBES Series (AI for Vocational Instructors Boosting Education and Skills) with the first-ever webinar on 'AI for Better TVET'. This event falls under the ILO's 'Quality Apprenticeship and Lifelong Learning in China Phase 2' project that supports the skill improvement of Technical and Vocational Education and Training teachers and in-company trainers by integrating AI into their teaching approaches.
The webinar attracted nearly 300 participants from a broad range of stakeholders, including government agencies, businesses, TVET institutions, and trade unions. The sessions were the first of a number of capacity-building sessions to promote the understanding and application of AI in vocational education and training.
ILO Chief of Skills and Employability Srinivas Reddy commended Microsoft for its unwavering partnership and contributions to advancing digital skills with a lifelong learning framework. “Targeted initiatives like the AI-VIBES Series are essential to fully harness AI’s transformative potential in vocational education and training”, he said in his opening remarks.
Xiaochu Dai, Deputy Director of the ILO Country Office for China and Mongolia, stressed the urgency of equipping trainers with AI competencies. “As AI reshapes skills development globally, it is imperative that we empower educators with tools that improve teaching efficiency and training outcomes”, Dai noted.
Microsoft Asia Lead of Employee Engagement, Crossing Wang, highlighted the broader economic impact of AI, calling the initiative crucial for fostering adaptability in the age of AI. “Promoting AI skills through vocational education ensures that citizens are well-positioned to thrive in the new digital economy”, she stated.
Mary Kent, Skills and Employability Specialist from the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, delivered a comprehensive keynote addressing AI’s transformative impact on skills development. She urged participants to see AI as a collaborative tool and emphasized the importance of cultivating core skills such as analytical thinking to complement technological advances.
Dr. Sanping Li, Senior AI Applied Scientist at Microsoft, shared insights into Generative AI’s practical applications in vocational training. He illustrated how AI could streamline curriculum development, improve daily instructional tasks, and enable personalized learning experiences for students.
Building on their global partnership established in 2022, the ILO and Microsoft initiated the AI-VIBES Series in 2024 to address the evolving needs of Chinese TVET educators. The series adopts a phased approach, beginning with knowledge-sharing webinars and progressing to hands-on training workshops and the implementation of Microsoft’s localized AI for Trainers Toolkit. This innovative model aims to empower trainers with the skills needed to integrate AI into their teaching practices effectively.
The Quality Apprenticeship and Lifelong Learning in China – Phase 2 project reflects the ILO’s commitment to advancing vocational education in alignment with global trends. By leveraging AI, the project addresses the growing demand for digital transformation in education and labor markets.
Future sessions in the AI-VIBES Series will expand on topics such as AI ethics, adaptive learning technologies, and strategies for scaling AI adoption across China’s vocational training systems. This initiative exemplifies how targeted partnerships and innovative strategies can prepare educators and workers for a dynamic, AI-driven future.
With this initiative, the ILO and Microsoft aim to set a global benchmark for integrating AI into vocational training. The program’s insights and outcomes could serve as a model for other countries seeking to modernize their educational and training systems to meet the demands of Industry 4.0 and beyond.
The AI-VIBES Series reaffirms the role of collaboration in fostering inclusive, future-ready education systems that empower individuals to excel in the evolving digital economy.
