Foresight Contributions

Briefing on TVET Policies in China

China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE)

Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) has been playing a significant role in supporting the socioeconomic development in China. So far, China has established the largest TVET system with more than 11,300 vocational institutions and schools enrolling over 30 million students in the world.

The Chinese government has undertaken active policy reforms with the goal to establish a comprehensive TVET system providing paths and choices among academic, professional, technical and skills education and training, and to improve public visibility and recognition of the sector.

China issued the National Implement Plan for TVET Reform in January 2019. The Plan called for establishing national standards for TVET and building up a modern and advanced TVET system with Chinese characteristics. For the first time, the Plan announced pilot of a 1+X certification system, which encouraged students to obtain occupational and competency-based certificates (X) in addition to higher vocational education diploma . The 1+X certification learning hours and outcomes will be counted as academic credits by the national credit bank system. The credit bank will support recognizing, accumulating and transforming various types of learning experiences and outcomes, and help lead to a lifelong learning society.

In 2021, a first-ever National Vocational Education Conference activated a few new actions to reinforce implementation of the Plan. One of the most significant measures is to upgrade the three-year diploma to four-year baccalaureate TVET programs and institutions. In 2021, the Chinese Ministry of Education released a list of 247 baccalaureate TVET majors.

Substantial cooperation and integration of industries, enterprises and educational institutions including course design and delivery, faculty training and coaching, and practicum and apprenticeship was also encouraged, so as to better match the supply of high-quality workforce with industrial demand.

Entering into a new five-year cycle of national strategic planning in 2021, TVET, now recognized as an equally important type of education, is a strong driving force for economic transformation and an impetus for preparing for future jobs.

Reference

  1. Gov.cn. 2021. 人人出彩，技能强国——我国职业教育改革发展成就综述_滚动新闻_中国政府网. [online] Available at: <http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2021-04/11/content_5598933.htm> [Accessed 2 July 2021].
  2. Moe.gov.cn. 2021. 2020年全国教育事业统计主要结果 – 中华人民共和国教育部政府门户网站. [online] Available at: <http://www.moe.gov.cn/jyb_xwfb/gzdt_gzdt/s5987/202103/t20210301_516062.html> [Accessed 17 June 2021].
  3. Sun D., Lu J., Li J. (2009) New Policy Actions and Government Roles: China’s Reconstruction of TVET Systems Since the 1980s. In: Maclean R., Wilson D. (eds) International Handbook of Education for the Changing World of Work. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5281-1_65