From May 8th to 15th, a high-ranking delegation from Indonesia came to China to obtain information about vocational education in China . They visited various project centers of the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), and exchanged views with the Ministry of Education (MoE) of PR China. The delegation was headed by Mr. Endang Turmudi Phd, General Secretary of the Central Bureau of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). Besides additional NU members, the delegation consisted of the parliamentarian, Mr. Masduki Baidlowi and Mr. Aceng Abdul Azis from the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Mr. Christian Hegemer, project director of the HSF in Jakarta, accompanied the delegation.

The NU is Indonesia 's biggest Muslim organization, primarily aiming at fostering the education and health sectors, and promoting inter-religious dialogue. Its members have a multi-faceted social and professional background. The NU represents and stands for values like justice, tolerance and social harmony, related to inter-human relationships as well as to the religious sphere. Extreme attitudes are strongly rejected. They don't match the basic values and principles of the NU.

In Shandong province, the delegation visited the Vocational Training Center and Vocational Teacher Training Center in Pingdu, the Teaching and Test Farm in Cuizhao, the Vocational Training Center in Weifang and the Vocational Teacher Training Center in Qingzhou.

The project managers in charge, Mr. Simon Numberger and Mr. Albrecht Flor, gave insights into the very hands on dual vocational training of killed workers and master craftsmen. Further topics included vocational teacher training and the education transfer to less developed areas in China , both topics that are likewise of great concern to Indonesia.

In Beijing , Mr. Zhang Zhaowen, Vice Director of the Department Vocational Training and Adult Education of the MoE, spoke about the Chinese education system in general, with special emphasis on recent developments in the field of vocational training and education. Especially for the rural population, vocational education is an adequate means to gain qualification, and thus enhance employability. Prof. Jiang Dayuan, Vice Director of the Central Institute for Vocational Education of the MoE, enlightened the delegation in the ways of the development path of the vocational education in China since the opening up policy in 1978. Vocational education is of strategic significance for the education system and the economic development. Consequently, the government will increase its investment in the sector in the next years.

Delegation members enquired about current problems related to vocational education in China and the volume of financial funds directed to the sector. According to Prof. Jiang, vocational education in China lacks the recognition and standing it deserves in the society, with

the consequence of falling behind in the overall development. Mr. Zhang Zhaowen remarked that 10-15% of the government's expenditure is spent on education in China. In Indonesia the respective percentage is rd. 9%. According to the constitution, the percentage has to be increased to 20% of the governmental budget in the next years.

Information input on teacher training