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Pearson and Jordan extend vocational education partnership through 2031

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LONDON and AMMAN, Jordan, June 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Jordanian Ministry of Education signed a five-year contract extension with Pearson (FTSE: PSON.L) to continue delivering the vocational education development programme first launched in 2023, extending the partnership to 2031.

The signing took place at the Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in London. Under the extension, Pearson will continue to support the delivery of vocational qualifications in Jordan to 362 schools with learner numbers expected to continue to grow in the following five years. BTEC Level 2 and 3 Arabic-language qualifications will be offered across 14 sectors including Business, IT, Health and Social Care, Hair and Beauty and Agriculture.

Pearson first partnered with the Jordanian Ministry of Education in May 2023 to support the reform of the country’s technical and vocational education and training system in schools. The initiative introduced vocational qualifications into the national curriculum in support of Jordan’s Economic Vision 2033, helping to address labour market needs and tackle youth unemployment. Students who successfully complete the programme receive a globally recognised BTEC certificate accepted by universities in the UK, the US, Australia, Canada and across the MENAT region.

The partnership integrates vocational qualifications into the national curriculum, giving learners practical, hands-on experience that prepares them for both employment and higher education. Developed alongside educators, employers and government bodies, these qualifications are aligned with workforce demand and designed to help learners build industry-relevant skills for future growth.

Dr. Azmi Mahafza, Minister of Education for Jordan, said “The expansion of partnership through the renewal of our agreement with Pearson for another five years reflects our strategic commitment to strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Jordan, ensuring high-quality outcomes that contribute to our Economic Modernization Vision. This achievement coincides with the preparations undertaken to celebrate the graduation of the first batch of Jordan’s Level 3 BTEC students. This continued cooperation contributes significantly to bridge the skills gap between educational outcomes and the evolving needs of the local labour market, through effective alignment of curricula and competencies with workplace requirements. On behalf of Jordan’s Government, the Ministry of Education highly values this partnership with Pearson and considers it an example of fruitful international cooperation”

Pearson has also provided in-country training to help Jordanian educators deliver vocational qualifications effectively and with confidence. As part of the contract extension, educators will continue to strengthen their vocational teaching skills through Pearson’s training programmes.

Jane Baker, Pearson’s Vice President of Enterprise Learning & Skills, said: “This five-year extension reflects the strength of our partnership with the Jordanian Ministry of Education and our shared commitment to expanding opportunity for learners in Jordan. By broadening access to high-quality vocational qualifications and continued teacher development, we are helping more young people build the skills, confidence and recognised pathways they need to progress into further study and future careers.”

About Pearson
At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. That’s why our c. 18,000 Pearson employees are committed to creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are the world’s lifelong learning company, serving customers in nearly 200 countries with digital content, assessments, qualifications, and data. For us, learning isn’t just what we do. It’s who we are. Visit us at plc.pearson.com.

Media Contacts:
anfaal.mahmood@pearson.com
bhavya.suri@pearson.com

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/pearson-and-jordan-extend-vocational-education-partnership-through-2031-302787118.html

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Envision Marks First International Application of SAFc at Global Citizen NOW, Providing Environmental Attributes Corresponding to 10 Tonnes of CO₂ Emissions Reductions

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SYDNEY, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Envision, a global leader in green technology, expanded its Sustainable Aviation Fuel certificate (SAFc) solution internationally as the Sustainability Partner of Global Citizen NOW: Perth. This marks the company’s first international application of SAFc, demonstrating a practical pathway to integrate aviation decarbonization into the sustainability practices of major global events.

For this event, Envision delivered environmental attributes corresponding to 10 tonnes of CO₂ emissions reductions. These reductions are linked to the actual production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with the associated attributes recorded and retired through a leading global Registry to ensure transparency and traceability.

Alongside this initiative, Envision’s Australian team participated in the event’s broader programme, including discussions on clean energy investment and industrial decarbonisation, bilateral meetings, and the Capital Mobilization Roundtable and Masterclass. Through these engagements, the team exchanged perspectives with leaders from business, investment and the climate community on Western Australia’s potential role in the next-generation green industries, while exploring opportunities to strengthen collaboration, mobilize investment and accelerate the clean energy transition.

Co-hosted by Global Citizen and the Government of Western Australia, the summit took place ahead of COP31, convening representatives from governments, businesses, philanthropic foundations, and First Nations communities to advance clean energy access, climate resilience, and inclusive economic development.

The Perth SAFc initiative builds on Envision’s SAFc application at the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen in September, where the company demonstrated how SAFc could address the air-travel emissions of a major conference. Global Citizen NOW: Perth represents the next step—applying this model internationally and demonstrating its potential as a scalable solution for companies and major events seeking to tackle aviation-related emissions across global value chains.

The initiative also reflects Envision’s broader approach to corporate decarbonisation. Across wind and solar power, energy storage, green molecules, net-zero industrial parks, and green computing, Envision is developing integrated solutions to help companies tackle emissions across their operations and value chains.

“Envision will continue to explore the application of green fuels across aviation and international events, foster collaboration throughout the green fuel value chain, and support aviation’s low-carbon transition through transparent, traceable environmental attribute management,” said Bella Zhang, Head of Global SAF at Envision.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/envision-marks-first-international-application-of-safc-at-global-citizen-now-providing-environmental-attributes-corresponding-to-10-tonnes-of-co-emissions-reductions-302923213.html

SOURCE Envision

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More Than Business: ChinaMarket’s “Little Bees” Go the Extra Mile for International Buyers

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LINYI, China, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — When a Malaysian buyer experienced a sudden toothache during the Linyi Mall International Buyers Conference in China, he found help in an unexpected place.

A member of ChinaMarket‘s “Little Bees” service team, Chen Fuqing, promptly accompanied him to a local hospital and assisted him throughout the visit.

It was a small act of kindness, but it reflected something important about doing business in Linyi: international buyers have people they can turn to when they need help.

During the international buyers conference, ChinaMarket established its “Little Bees” service team to assist overseas visitors throughout their stay in Linyi.

From welcoming international buyers and arranging market visits to connecting them with suppliers, helping bridge language barriers, and responding to unexpected situations, the team works to make the sourcing experience easier and more comfortable.

Linyi is home to one of China’s major wholesale market clusters, attracting buyers from around the world with its diverse products, manufacturing resources, and extensive supply chains.

As the official digital platform of Linyi Wholesale Market, ChinaMarket connects global buyers with Chinese suppliers and provides integrated sourcing and trade services.

For international buyers, successful sourcing involves more than finding the right products. Clear communication, reliable coordination, and access to support are equally important.

The “Little Bees” team brings this commitment to life through personal, on-the-ground assistance.

A recent song released by ChinaMarket captures the spirit of the city:

“Come to Linyi, a city that welcomes you with open arms.”

In Linyi, global buyers can discover business opportunities, build partnerships, and experience the warmth of genuine hospitality.

Come to Linyi. Source with ChinaMarket.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/more-than-business-chinamarkets-little-bees-go-the-extra-mile-for-international-buyers-302923217.html

SOURCE ChinaMarket

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UnionPay and Cuscal Paymark Discuss Payment Acceptance and Digital Innovation

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AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mr. Dong Junfeng, Chairman of China UnionPay and UnionPay International, met with Cuscal Paymark, in Auckland on 19 October 2026 to discuss expanding UnionPay acceptance in New Zealand and opportunities for cooperation in digital payments. Mr. Mike Blomfield, Chief Executive Officer and Julia Nicol, Chief of Staff expressed support UnionPay’s plans and the advancement of key projects.

Cuscal Paymark is New Zealand’s largest payment switching and network services provider. The two parties have maintained a partnership since 2012.  To date, several major banks on its network support UnionPay payments at physical merchants. The company has also incorporated a number of UnionPay product standards into mandatory terminal upgrade requirements, providing a foundation for broader acceptance. Looking ahead, UnionPay will leverage Cuscal Paymark’s local network and transaction processing capabilities to upgrade online and in-store payment platforms and further improve UnionPay acceptance services.

Discussions also covered upgrades to support chip transactions on dual-branded cards, online payment gateway integration, and the joint promotion of SoftPOS solutions to acquirers. The companies agreed to strengthen technical coordination to maintain reliable payment processing during and after system upgrades.

Other topics included agentic payments, digital identity, biometric applications, and payment network connectivity.

Ms. Nicol reaffirmed Cuscal Paymark’s support for UnionPay’s ongoing development in New Zealand and the advancement of key projects. Both parties agreed to explore further cooperation in wallet connectivity and digital payments.

UnionPay entered the New Zealand market in 2008. Its acceptance coverage now exceeds 90%, and UnionPay cards are now widely issued by local financial institutions. UnionPay will continue working with partners to improve payment services, strengthen financial integration between China and other APEC economies, and advance cross-border payment cooperation between China and New Zealand and across the broader Asia-Pacific region.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/unionpay-and-cuscal-paymark-discuss-payment-acceptance-and-digital-innovation-302923215.html

SOURCE UnionPay International

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