The popularity of China's vocational bachelor's education is rising, with its employment rate surpassing that of traditional universities.

Foreign Media: The Rise of Vocational Bachelor's Degrees in China: Employment Rates Exceed Traditional Universities, Becoming a Voluntary Choice for Some High-Scoring Students

Amid the oversupply of graduates from traditional universities, vocational bachelor's education in China is shifting from an "alternative option" to a strategic choice for some students. Lin Gangming, a candidate from Yangjiang, Guangdong, chose Shenzhen Institute of Technology last year with scores sufficient to enter top-tier universities. Such cases have been frequently reported by domestic media.

Vocational bachelor's degree programs also grant bachelor's degrees, but their curricula focus on technical and skill development. Currently, the employment rates of graduates from these programs have exceeded those of traditional bachelor's degree programs. The scale of institutions has expanded rapidly—from just 15 schools during the pilot phase in 2019 to over 100 today.

Jerard Postiglione, a Chinese education researcher at the University of Hong Kong, pointed out that this adjustment is an active response by China to economic diversification and accelerating technological development, aiming to integrate academic education with vocational and technical education, rather than separate them.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1857839704781831/

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