This year, the results of the Chinese college entrance examination (Gaokao·高考) were recently announced, revealing that the passing scores for several vocational colleges (hereinafter referred to as technical colleges) have surpassed those of prestigious universities. Pursuing education at technical colleges, which emphasize practical training rather than academic research, has emerged as an alternative for securing stable employment amid severe job competition.
According to local media, Chinese vocational colleges refer to four-year institutions that focus on vocational education while also granting bachelor's degrees. This system was fully implemented starting in 2019. These colleges aim to cultivate advanced personnel who combine both theory and practical skills, exceeding the existing level of vocational education. Recently, they have been offering majors centered on strategic industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and biotechnology.
China Business News reported on the 7th that among the successful candidates of Shenzhen Vocational Technical University, 10 students scored above 600 points on the Gaokao. The university has increased its enrollment more than double compared to the previous year, which has led to a heightened passing score due to intense admission competition. Reports indicate that Shenzhen Information Vocational Technical University, located in the same region, has also seen the passing Gaokao scores reach 600, surpassing the passing scores of some prestigious universities. The Gaokao has a maximum score of 750, and generally, a score above 600 is required to gain admission to prestigious universities, which places it within the top 3%.
In addition, at Jin Hua Vocational Technical University in Zhejiang Province, the highest scoring candidate admitted this year achieved a score of 621, the highest ever in the region, with the number of successful candidates scoring above 600 increasing by 17% compared to the previous year. This university has filled all its majors without any additional admissions or vacancies for four consecutive years.
The influx of high-scoring Gaokao candidates into vocational colleges can be attributed to the employment crisis. As the issue of educational inflation intensifies, prestigious university degrees no longer serve as a competitive advantage in the job market, prompting students to deliberately abandon prestigious university titles in favor of employment stability. Reports indicate that actually, 97% of graduates from Wuxi Vocational Technical University in 2024 succeeded in securing employment, while Ningbo Vocational Technical University has an employment rate of 88% in related fields.
Professor Ding Changpa of Xiamen University's Department of Economics noted, "Particularly, the influx of high-scoring applicants this time in Shenzhen, a major city in China with a strong industrial ecosystem, is indicative of the high demand for practical talents, which has intensified admission competition."
Graduates who have not secured jobs are also pursuing studies at technical colleges to utilize employment-linked programs. According to China Business News, Guangzhou Public Projects Technical College has introduced a technology course for bachelor's degree graduates for the first time this year, offering tailored on-site practical training for corporations. Students will spend one year in classroom instruction and another year assigned to companies for practical training. Upon completion of the program, they can be formally employed by the respective corporations.
The Zhejiang government is also supporting technical colleges in offering programs for unemployed graduates. Some universities, like Zhengzhou Railways Vocational Technical University, have been selectively admitting bachelor's degree graduates for several years to implement specialized training courses.
There are calls for restructuring in the college sector. Graduates require more job opportunities, while the industrial sector demands skilled personnel with practical experience. Thus, it is deemed necessary for universities to adjust their curricula to produce graduates who meet the demands of the industrial workplace. China Business News pointed out that "the recent phenomenon of a heavy concentration on vocational colleges suggests that many universities are actively aligning with the trend of economic development, further optimizing major systems, and should suitably adjust departments that do not align with social demands to cultivate talents necessary for national economic and social development."