China’s vocational education system is powering a new generation of skilled workers, with over 70% of new frontline employees in modern manufacturing, strategic emerging industries, and modern services coming from vocational schools, according to the Report on the Development of Vocational Education in China.
In an effort to align education with industry demands, the Ministry of Education revised the vocational major catalog in 2021, adding courses focused on strategic emerging industries, modern services, digital transformation, and rural revitalization.
By 2023, higher vocational schools introduced 1,266 new programs related to cutting-edge fields like next-generation information technology, high-end equipment manufacturing, new materials, and biotechnology. This marks an 8.24% increase from the previous year, producing over 1.05 million graduates ready to enter these dynamic sectors.
Vocational education isn’t just about classrooms—it’s about real-world problem-solving. Colleges are collaborating with enterprises to tackle frontline production challenges. They’ve undertaken more than 2,700 state-level scientific research projects and provided technical services worth over 9.1 billion yuan (approximately $1.25 billion) through university-enterprise partnerships. Over 7,000 patents have been transferred to businesses, involving more than 540 million yuan.
As of 2023, China boasts over 11,000 vocational schools, including technical institutions, with nearly 35 million students enrolled. This makes China’s vocational education system the largest in the world.
By focusing on the development of new quality productivity, optimizing professional settings, and supplying high-quality labor, China is laying a strong foundation for its future growth and innovation.
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China's vocational education boosts new quality productive forces
cgtn.com
