International mutual recognition of vocational education learning outcomes: Proposal and practice in China

The accelerating globalization of the labor market and rapid technological transformation necessitate an internationally applicable framework for recognizing vocational education and training (VET) learning outcomes. While efforts like United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO's) World Reference Levels (WRL) and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) have established foundational principles, they face challenges in global implementation and cross-border comparability. This paper introduces a pragmatic and systemic proposal, the International Mutual Recognition Scheme for Vocational Education Learning Outcomes (IMRVELO), often referred to as the Shenzhen Accord. The IMRVELO scheme is developed in the context of China's large-scale VET system and its strategic Going Global with Industries initiative. The core contribution of the scheme lies in its four-level International Vocational Education Levels (IVEL), a novel 3 x 8 x 24 Objectives Taxonomy (covering Foundational, Operational, and Developmental Competencies), and a flexible yet quality-assured Curriculum Framework based on substantive equivalence. This proposal aims to provide a functional and immediately implementable mechanism for credit accumulation and transfer, thereby enhancing the quality, adaptability, and equity of VET globally.