The World of Higher Education Skilled for the Future: How China is Transforming Vocational Education with Gerard Postiglione
Dec 5, 2024
Gerard Postiglione, a Professor at the University of Hong Kong and an expert on Chinese vocational education policy, delves into the evolution of China’s vocational education system. He highlights historical reforms influenced by Soviet models and discusses current initiatives aimed at transforming vocational universities into industry-aligned institutions. The conversation touches on public perceptions, the role of corporate partnerships, and the balance between academic and vocational paths. Postiglione also predicts a vital future for these schools in nurturing skills for a green economy.
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Historic Shift To Mass Vocational Provision
- China shifted early vocational policy from Soviet-style school-factory links to mass vocational provision after 1978 reforms.
- By the mid-1980s half of senior secondary students entered vocational-technical tracks as access to universities remained tiny.
The Jiang Ping Math Contest Story
- Gerard recalls the Jiang Ping case where a vocational student won a national math contest but was later disqualified due to teacher help.
- The episode highlighted public perceptions that vocational students are a lower-status group despite individual excellence.
2019 Reform Aims For Global Leadership
- The 2019 National Vocational Education Reform aims to make China a global leader in vocational education and align skills with industrial strategy.
- The plan targets both senior secondary and higher vocational education, plus converting many universities toward applied, vocational baccalaureates.