China Approves 33 New Undergraduate Colleges to Boost Vocational Education

China’s Ministry of Education has announced the establishment of 33 new undergraduate colleges, with nearly half of these institutions being upgraded from vocational schools [para. 1]. This initiative aligns with the national strategy to enhance vocational education, aiming to fulfill the growing demand for skilled professionals and foster high-quality economic development [para. 2].

Among these new institutions, the Civil Affairs Vocational University stands out as the only school directly under the Ministry of Civil Affairs. It is being upgraded from the Beijing Vocational College of Social Management, and offers unique programs including modern funeral management, rehabilitation treatment technology, pre-school education, nursing, social work, community administration and service, and wedding services [para. 3]. Another notable institution is the newly built University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences in Qingdao, which is a collaborative effort involving the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, the National Health Commission, and Shandong Province. This university plans to enroll 10,000 students, split equally between undergraduates and postgraduates, focusing on fields such as rehabilitation therapeutics, bioinformatics, and biomedical engineering to address the high demand for rehabilitation services in China [para. 4].

The Shenzhen Institute of Technology, scheduled to accept students in 2024, is another new college attracting public attention. It is a joint venture between the Shenzhen government and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with a focus on cutting-edge disciplines like neuroscience and biotechnology [para. 5].

This expansion of educational institutions comes at a time when China is grappling with rising youth unemployment and a challenging job market for graduates [para. 6]. Although China’s urban unemployment rate saw a slight decrease to 5.2% in March, the unemployment rate among 25 to 29-year-olds increased from 6.4% to 7.2%. The jobless rate for those aged 16 to 24, excluding students, remained steady at 15.3%, highlighting the ongoing difficulties young people face in securing employment in urban areas [para. 7]. The increasing joblessness among highly educated youth has become a significant concern for policymakers in recent years. To combat this issue, the government has committed to developing vocational education to improve youth employment prospects. The target is set for vocational undergraduate enrollment to make up at least 10% of vocational higher education enrollment by 2025 [para. 8].

Overall, China currently has 35 vocational colleges that offer undergraduate programs, reflecting the nation's ongoing efforts to enhance vocational education as a pathway to better employment opportunities [para. 9].

For more information, contact reporter Denise Jia at huijuanjia@caixin.com. [para. 10]