Analysis: Why Many Chinese University Graduates Are Going to Vocational School

Six years after earning her bachelor’s degree in instrumental performance, Gao Shenghan found herself back in a classroom, this time as a freshman at the Guangzhou Baiyun Technician College of Business and Technology. Her new major: fashion.

After graduating from university, Gao cycled through several industries, working as a music teacher, running a restaurant, and opening a clothing store. Ultimately, her passion for apparel and a desire for a competitive edge in the job market led her to what many in China call “re-tooling” — returning to school for a technical education.