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LIUZHOU, located in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and robust industrial economy.

Known as the “City of Automobiles,” Liuzhou has evolved into a major industrial hub, particularly for automotive and railway sectors.

The college covers about 800 acres with a total floor space exceeding 320,000 square metres comprising 10 schools. It currently employs nearly 800 faculty and staff members. The college offers 45 academic specialities and has over 15,000 full-time higher vocational students.

LRVTC shows a part of the workings of China’s extensive railway systems which spans over 150,000km, including 42,000km of high-speed rail. The insights were relevant to the ECRL project in Malaysia, as it underscored the importance of integrating advanced technologies like autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and sustainable energy solutions into railway infrastructure. 

On the future of track maintenance and locomotive systems, visitors gained hands-on experience in LRVTC’s state-of-the-art facilities, including labs equipped with simulators and tools for track maintenance.

The structured training model emphasised practical skills such as ultrasonic testing, alignment maintenance, and fishplate operations. There was an insight into courses on locomotive systems covering propulsion mechanisms, braking technologies, and advancements in electric and hybrid locomotives.

Such exposure is pivotal for updating academic curricula in Malaysia to include emerging railway technologies and maintenance practices, fostering a trained workforce ready to meet industry demands.

According to LRVTC principal Qin, the college is dedicated to a “three-step” international development strategy, concentrating on five key countries: Malaysia, Laos, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

LRVTC focuses on collaboration in five essential fields: Railway transportation, urban rail transit, new energy vehicles, intelligent manufacturing, and artificial intelligence.

“The college actively engages in cooperation across five main areas: Standards and certifications, curricula and resources, enterprises and equipment, teachers and students, models and promotion.

“The college has established a strategic partnership with the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) ECRL Project Department, Malaysia.

“This collaboration involves conducting technical research and facilitating the integration of technical standards into educational frameworks.

“In partnership with Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), the college co-founded the China-Malaysia Railway Modern Craftsman College and initiated the China-Malaysia Vocational Education Industry – Education Alliance, bringing together resources from over 30 domestic and international entities, including CCCC and CRRC Corporation Limited.

“Together, we are developing several key facilities, such as ECRL Technical Training Centre (Employee Training Base), Overseas Social Service Base for Railway Craftsman College, Overseas Practical Training Base for Railway Craftsman College, Railway Signal Integrated Training Base.”

Qin said that this initiative establishes a cross-border cooperation platform characterized by “one college and multiple bases.”

The college has implemented an international talent cultivation model focused on “Dual-Education & Job-Guaranteed.”

“This model nurtures local railway craftsmen while exploring sustainable mechanisms for integrating education with technology.

“It fosters a comprehensive synergy among the rail transit ‘construction + equipment + O&M’ industry chain, talent chain, and innovation chain.

“Notably, entities like Vietnam Railways (VNR) have shown interest in replicating this craftsman college model, which is expanding its influence throughout other Asean countries.

“In the past five years, the college has successfully trained 247 international students from Asean countries, including Thailand, Laos, and Malaysia.

“The college has delivered a range of training programmes totalling 25,307 person-days for overseas Chinese-funded enterprises. This achievement establishes the college as a crucial “talent reservoir” for nurturing local talent to support projects undertaken by Chinese-funded enterprises abroad,” Qin said.

Journalists learnt that incorporating advanced railway technologies, such as high-speed systems and smart maintenance tools, can elevate Malaysia’s infrastructure and safety standards. Malaysian institutions can update their engineering and vocational programmes by adopting LRVTC’s comprehensive training models to suit local conditions.