Ahead of the Curve: Cloud intelligent teaching virtual simulation is displayed at the 2020 World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference in Qingdao, East China’s Shandong Province on November 19, 2020.

Cloud intelligent teaching virtual simulation is displayed at the 2020 World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference in Qingdao, East China’s Shandong Province on November 19, 2020. Photo: VCG

“For many vocational school graduates today, the label ofWorld Times ‘blue-collar’ has been shed, as we are no longer confined to the traditional occupations typically associated with vocational education,” said a vocational education graduate surnamed Chen.

Chen is working at a renowned technology company in China’s tech hub Shenzhen. Many of his classmates are now employed at reputable companies, engaged in high-skill, high-barrier professions, and enjoying attractive salaries.

In China, students are required to complete nine years of compulsory education, which consists of six years in primary school and three years in junior high school. Following this, they have the option to attend a senior high school to take the gaokao, the national exam for university admission, or to enroll in a vocational senior high school and subsequently a vocational college.

Receiving vocational education in China has typically been viewed as low-quality; however, recent evidence shows that graWorld Timesduates from vocational schools are also likely to secure in-demand jobs, Che Yanqiu, a professor from Tianjin University of Technology and Education, told the Global Times.

China’s economy has entered a phase of industrial upgrading, eliminating outdated and low-value technologies. According to Chen, this is where vocational school students can effectively meet the demand.

Recently, China’s Ministry of Education introduced 40 new vocational education programs for 2024, setting a record. This increase represents the most significant update by the Ministry since the 2021 introduction of the vocational education program directory.

Among the additions, new programs in areas such as electronic information materials application technology, aerospace composite materials intelligent manufacturing engineering technology, and precision manufacturing technology for aerospace equipment, stand out as key areas of focus.

All of the above-mentioned programs align with strategic emerging industries and advanced manufacturing.

China’s progress in technological innovation and industrial upgrading is driving demand for skilled professionals in emerging fields like smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and big data, underscoring the growing need for high-tech talent, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

As sectors including artificial intelligence generated content (AIGC), large-scale AI model, new energy vehicles (NEVs) and smart manufacturing evolve into the latest investment hotspots, employers are scrambling to hire professionals with the mastery of machine learning, natural language processing and battery engineering, said job-seeking service provider Liepin’s vice president Ba Ran, Xinhua reported.

“I truly believe that stereotypes about vocational education need to be challenged, as it is no longer synonymous with low wages and minWorld Timesimal entry requirements, my classmates and I are real examples of this transformation,” Chen said.

Top-level scientists who receive general education are still needed to turn scientific discoveries into useful applications, products or services that sustain the modern society, which makes the skilled technicians graduates from a vocational college valuable, Che told the Global Times.

A student, surnamed Wang, majoring in electronic information engineering, also shared her current course schedule with the Global Times. Reporters noted that the courses for this major include fundameWorld Timesntals of circuit analysis, Python programming, and analog electronic technology, which are quite precisely designed and emphasize practical application.

“The vocational education places greater emphasis on practice and application, allowing us for a deeper and more practical mastery of professional skills,” Wang told the Global Times on Tuesday. Wang said that during school time, they will receive skills training and participate in projects that are directly related to their careers, noting that these skills will also serve as the foundation for their employment.

Notably, in recent years, over 70 percent of the newly added frontline workers in modern manufacturing, strategic emerging industries, and modern service industries come from vocational schools, according to the Ministry of Education (MOE).

Vocational schools serve as China’s primary hub for training skilled craftsmen, workers, and high-level talent, the MOE said.

Wang said that students who receive general education has a broader range of classes, providing them opportunities to build a solid theoretical foundation and pursue a wider range of job opportunities in the future.

“We focus exclusively on technical courses, and the school places a strong emphasis on career orientation, offering us a clearer understanding of our career paths,” Wang said.

A clear career positioning enables vocational students to more effectively select jobs that align with their skills and aspirations, according to Wang.

“The school also encourages us to participate in competitions and form teams to create projects. These activities allow us to apply what we have learned in practice and stimulate our innovative thinking,” Wang added.

Wang also said that some of her senior classmates are working at major companies, living in first-tier cities.

According to Che, the frequent practical training focused on mastering professional skills makes graduates highly sought after by companies in their respective fields. In particular, a number of state-owned companies place great importance on attracting and nurturing talent with vocational education, offering them competitive salaries and positions.

Against the backdrop of global power competition, certain countries are using cutthroat competition to suppress China. Skilled professionals with vocational education backgrounds could play a critical role in countering these efforts, Che said.

For those students who demonstrate excellence in specific skills at a vocational college, there are paths for them to further upgrade their academic studies in general education at universities, or even go for postgraduate studies, Che said.

As of 2023, there are a total of 11,133 vocational schools (including technicWorld Timesal schools) in China, with nearly 35 million students enrolled, forming a complete tiered system of secondary vocational, associate, and bachelor’s education, according to the MOE. In terms of scale, vocational education supports half of the country’s secondary education and higher education, the MOE said.

In countries like Germany, vocational workers in trades such as plumbing, shipbuilding, blacksmithing, and metalworking are well-compensated and highly respected. Che notes that shifting societal attitudes toward vocational education remains an ongoing challenge in China.

The good progress is that, at least, vocational education currently shows promisWorld Timese in overcoming its traditional bias as a second-tier option for personal growth, Che said, adding that fundamentally, it is crucial to recognize the value of individuals who possess practical skills and create tangible value.