The Situation, Experience and Policy of the Vocational Education in China Department of Vocational and Adult Education, Ministry of Education, P.R.C. Liu Jiantong December 2, 2013 Disclaimer: The views expressed in this document are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), its Board of Directors, or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this document, and accept no responsibility for any consequence of their use. By making any designation or reference to a particular territory or geographical area, or by using the term “country” in this document, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

My dear fellows and friends, Good Morning! It’s a great pleasure for me to attend the TVET workshop jointly organized by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). We will exchange with each other the experience and policies of TVET development in Asia-Pacific countries from the perspective of promoting industrial upgrading and economic transformation, which is important for the reform and development of education as well as the society and economy. On behalf of the Department of Vocational and Adult Education, Ministry of Education, P.R.C., I would like to express my warm congratulations to the workshop, my sincere welcome to the guests from both home and abroad, and my heartfelt appreciation to the colleagues for your support to the TVET development. 2

Based on the agenda, I will briefly introduce the main progresses and the development concepts for China’s vocational education in recent years as well as further cooperation on vocational education among Asia-Pacific countries. 3

Outline 1. New Progresses Made During the Reform and Development of China’s Vocational Education 2. General Idea for the Development of China’s Vocational Education in the Years to Come 3. Suggestions on Strengthening the Cooperation on Vocational Education Among Asia-Pacific countries 4

1. New Progresses Made During the Reform and Development of China’s Vocational Education 5 Firstly, gradually improving the top-level design Secondly, making efforts to promote a comprehensive reform Thirdly, deepening the education reform in an all-around way Fourthly, promoting the cooperation between universities and enterprises Fifthly, improving the guarantee mechanism Sixthly, further opening to the outside world

6 With the great concern from the Government and strong support from the social sectors, efforts have been made to develop a specific growth pattern for the vocational education in recent years, which has speeded up the construction of a modern vocational education. The whole industry is thriving. At present, there are about 14,000 secondary and post-secondary vocational schools with an annual enrollment of about 11 million students. There are about 31 million students in these schools. Each year, 150 million urban and rural workers are trained. A large quantity of highly qualified workers have been trained. Vocational education is becoming a driving force for economic growth, a reservoir for human resources and a stabilizer for a harmony society. 1. New Progresses Made During the Reform and Development of China’s Vocational Education

7 First, gradually improving the top-level design. We shall increase our understanding of modern vocational education and explore the concepts and ideas with Chinese characteristics for the development of modern vocational education of China.  First, set a clear goal for the development of modern vocational education. It has been suggested that, by 2020, a world-class modern vocational education system with Chinese characteristics will be built which can adapt to the development demands, integrate the production and education together, link together the secondary and post-secondary education and enable the communication between general education and vocational education.The concept of life-long education is integrated in this system. 1. New Progresses Made During the Reform and Development of China’s Vocational Education

8  Second, make a general plan for the reform and development of modern vocational education. It is explicitly stated the tasks, schedule and roadmap for various reforms as well as the plan for the reform and innovation of secondary and post-secondary vocational education, so as to promote the reform and innovation of post-secondary vocation education and guide the transformation and development of regular colleges and universities.  Third, build up and improve the various vocational education systems. It has pointed out the 12 basic systems and 10 major tasks for the development of modern vocational education, and made a top-level design for the construction of modern vocational education system. 1. New Progresses Made During the Reform and Development of China’s Vocational Education

9 Second, make efforts to promote a comprehensive reform. We shall lead the governments at all levels to speed up the development of the modern vocation education, the construction of a modern vocational education system and promote a comprehensive reform of vocational education.  First, promote the link between secondary and post-secondary education. Make a whole plan of the education goals, curriculum design and teaching of the secondary and post-secondary vocation education.  Second, promote the reform of examination and enrollment system of post-secondary education. Focus on the exploration of a “knowledge + skill” based evaluation method, and build up a “platform” for the growth of talents. 1. New Progresses Made During the Reform and Development of China’s Vocational Education

10  Third, provide guidance for the national and local vocational education reform pilot areas. We have built a collaborative innovation system combing the national top-level design and local pilot project.  Fourth, promote the construction of a modern school system. We shall focus on the governance over the development of modern vocational education and emphasize scientific governance. 1. New Progresses Made During the Reform and Development of China’s Vocational Education

11 Third, deepening the education reform. We shall lead the vocational education schools to put the teaching at the center of resource allocation and working priorities. We should promote the transformation of vocational education from quantity-oriented to quality-oriented. First, fulfill the task of educating students morally and academically. We shall strengthen both the moral education and academic education, improve the professional ethics cultivation and the vocational skill training so as to provide a sound foundation for the students’ life-long development. Second, promote the design of majors, curriculum and teaching materials. We shall make a standard for the teaching work of post-secondary vocational education schools, start the formulation of professional teaching standards for secondary and post-secondary vocation education schools and promote a standardized major setting and normalized teaching practices. 1. New Progresses Made During the Reform and Development of China’s Vocational Education

12  Third, improve the IT level. We shall make efforts to promote a profound integration between modern information technologies and education practices, and promote an information-based modern vocational education.  Fourth, build a “double-qualified” teaching staff team. We shall set up and improve the system allowing teachers of vocational education schools to work in enterprises and allowing technicians of enterprises to secure a part- time post in these schools, and promote the schools and enterprises to jointly set up “double-qualified” teaching staff training centers.” 1. New Progresses Made During the Reform and Development of China’s Vocational Education

13 Fourth, promote the cooperation between schools and enterprises. We shall build up a school-enterprise cooperation system which integrates education with production. First, practice vocational education collectivization. There are about 700 vocational education groups all over China, covering over 100 industrial sectors, about 20,000 enterprises, over 700 research institutes, over 70% secondary vocational education schools and over 90% of post-secondary vocational education schools.  Second, improve the industrial guidance capacity. We shall adjust and re-group the vocational education teaching guidance committees of 59 industries and build up an organization system guiding the development of vocational education. 1. New Progresses Made During the Reform and Development of China’s Vocational Education

14  Third, formulate different industrial guidance policies. Since 2010, over 30 dialogues have been organized between education and production, several working meetings for the vocational education of multiple industries have been convened. A long-acting education- production cooperative system has been formed.  Fourth, innovate the modality of national vocational education school skill contests. The contest shall be set up according to industrial needs, so as to guide the reform of talent cultivating pattern. 1.New Progresses Made During the Reform and Development of China’s Vocational Education

15 Fifth, improve the guarantee system. We shall greatly increase the vocational education investment and improve the conditions of running vocational education schools. First, build up a system ensuring the steady increase of vocational education funds. With government investment as the mainstay, we shall urge the local governments to set up equal fund allocation standards and guide and encourage the investment from enterprises and society. 1. New Progresses Made During the Reform and Development of China’s Vocational Education

16  Second, improve the financial aid policies. We shall exempt rural students, rural students learning agriculture-related majors and students with economic difficulties from tuition fees and provide national grants for students with economic difficulties, so as to promote education equality.  Third, improve the construction of basic vocational education capacities. In recent years, the Central Government of China has invested about RMB 50 billion in vocational education. A lot of pilot vocational education schools, professional and highly qualified teaching staff have been developed. 1. New Progresses Made During the Reform and Development of China’s Vocational Education

17 Sixth, further opening to the outside world. We shall insist on the integration of “Going Out” and “Inviting In” policies, and strengthen the exchange and cooperation among international vocational education schools.  First, improve the bilateral and multilateral vocational education cooperation mechanism. China has cooperated with over 30 countries and 10 international organizations on vocational education. The Sino- Germany, Sino-British and Sino-ASEAN policy dialogue activities are hold every year. 1. New Progresses Made During the Reform and Development of China’s Vocational Education

18  Second, carry out the vocational education international cooperation projects. The Ministry of Education of China has carried out dozens of cooperation projects jointly with Germany, UK, the Netherlands, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the Asian Development Bank as well as other countries and international organizations.  Third, improve the internationalization level of China’s vocational education school. We have selected 50 majors from schools in Shanghai and Tianjin to learn from and introduce the advanced ideas, systems and resources of international vocational education and develop a professional vocational education standard. 1. New Progresses Made During the Reform and Development of China’s Vocational Education

2. General Idea for the Development of China’s Vocational Education in the Years to Come First, further define the strategic position of vocational education Second, further define the characteristics of vocational education Third, further define the purpose of vocational education Fourth, further define the development direction of vocational education Fifth, further define the development path of vocational education 19

20 The Third Plenary Session of the 18 th CPC Central Committee had been held on November 9-12, This plenum is essential when the reform of China has entered into a crucial stage. Under the theme of reform, the Session has passed the Decisions on Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening Reforms. The Decisions have pointed out “we shall speed up the construction of modern vocational education system, deepen the production-education integration, and cultivate highly qualified labors and skilled talents”. It has clearly defined the direction for the reform, innovation and development of China’s vocation education in the years to come. 2. General Idea for the Development of China’s Vocational Education in the Years to Come

21 At present, the State Council of China is making preparations for the national vocational education working meeting, and plans to issue the Decisions of the State Council on Speeding up the Development of Modern Vocational Education and the Plan for the Construction of Modern Vocational Education System, which has made an overall plan for the development and reform of modern vocational education. Our major considerations include: 2. General Idea for the Development of China’s Vocational Education in the Years to Come

22 First, further define the strategic position of vocational education. It must be emphasized that to speed up the development of vocational education is an inevitable requirement for us to carry out the policy of rejuvenating the country through science and technology and the police of reinvigorating the country through talent development; it is an important measure for us to ensure the employment rate, benefit the people and upgrade the economy and find an effective way to cultivate everyone into talents. It has an important significance for us to build an overall well-off society and bring about a great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Thus, it shall be put at a strategic position. 2. General Idea for the Development of China’s Vocational Education in the Years to Come

23 Second, further define the characteristics of vocational education. We shall emphasize the equal importance of vocational education and general education. We shall take the accelerated development of modern vocational education as an important measure to promote the strategic adjustment of education structure and the innovation of national basic education system. A comprehensive “platform” for the growth of talents, including students from secondary and post-secondary vocational education schools and graduates and postgraduates, shall be established so as to promote the formation of a more rational talent structure and support a comprehensive development of national economy, society and talents. 2. General Idea for the Development of China’s Vocational Education in the Years to Come

24 Third, further define the purpose of vocational education. Based on the basic principle of moral cultivation and talent training, the purpose of development service and the orientation of employment promotion, we shall follow the law of talent growth and vocational education, further reform the education systems and mechanisms, improve the modern vocational education system and cultivate millions of highly qualified workers and skills to meet the demand of economic and social development, so as to provide a talent base for the construction of an innovative country with rich human resources. 2. General Idea for the Development of China’s Vocational Education in the Years to Come

25 Fourth, further define the development direction of vocational education schools. We shall innovate the talent cultivation pattern, highlight the improvement of students’ comprehensive quality and the promotion of students’ overall development, strive to cultivate everyone into a knowledgeable person. We shall pay equal attention to academic education and non-academic education, the full-time education and the non-full-time education. We shall actively set up schools for enterprises and communities and jointly cultivate the talents. 2. General Idea for the Development of China’s Vocational Education in the Years to Come

26 Fifth, further define the development path of vocational education. Based on the main principle of deeper integration of education and production and close partnership between schools and enterprises, we shall focus on the reform of school running and talent cultivation pattern, highly value the leading role of the government and the guiding role of the industry. We shall put the enterprises as the main force of vocational education schools, actively promote the collectivized school running, improve the systems and mechanisms for industries, enterprises and other social forces to participate in the reform and innovation of vocational education so as to mobilize all social forces to run vocational education schools. 2. General Idea for the Development of China’s Vocational Education in the Years to Come

3. Suggestions on Strengthening the Cooperation on Vocational Education Among Asia-Pacific countries First, strengthen the overall plan for the inter-governmental cooperation Second, make use of the functions of academic institutes and industrial associations Third, expand the inter-school communication and cooperation Fourth, promote the scientific research exchange among vocation education schools Fifth, guide the project and activity cooperation 27

28 Since its reform and opening up, China has been greatly benefiting from the international communication and cooperation. Asian Development Bank has been an important partner for China in terms of international education communication and cooperation. In recent years, China and Asian Development Bank have cooperated in may fields, including policy research, project support and scientific research, etc. A stable and effective cooperation system has been formed. In 2013, the Ministry of Education of China and Asian Development Bank has signed a cooperation agreement aiming at joint efforts in studying the policies for the cooperation between vocational education schools and enterprises. This project is the third national policy research projects between China and Asian Development Bank since Suggestions on Strengthening the Cooperation on Vocational Education Among Asia-Pacific countries

29 Experts from educational, economic, legal and insurance sectors have been invited to make a survey on government agencies, industrial organizations, various enterprises and vocational education schools, to analyze the typical experience and effective practices in cooperation between vocational education schools and enterprises at home and abroad, and make suggestions on policies for the systematic cooperation between vocational education schools and enterprises in China. At the same time, loans from Asian Development Bank have been implemented smoothly in Hunan Province and other places in China. These projects are of a great significance for the innovative development of vocational education in China. On behalf of the Department of Vocational and Adult Education, Ministry of Education, China, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for ADB’s supports! 3. Suggestions on Strengthening the Cooperation on Vocational Education Among Asia-Pacific countries

30 For a better application of this cooperation platform and deeper cooperation and communication on vocational education among all Asian-Pacific countries, I have five suggestions as follows: 3. Suggestions on Strengthening the Cooperation on Vocational Education Among Asia-Pacific countries

31 First, strengthen the overall plan for the inter-governmental cooperation. We shall make a good use of this Seminar to build up and improve the bilateral and multilateral vocational education cooperation mechanisms, promote the conclusion of memorandum of understanding for vocational education cooperation agreements when conditions are favorable, formulate a cooperation agreement framework and deepen our cooperation in such fields as the development strategy of vocational education, the mechanisms of macro policies and systems, etc. 3. Suggestions on Strengthening the Cooperation on Vocational Education Among Asia-Pacific countries

Second, make use of the functions of academic institutes and industrial associations. We shall take advantage of the vocational and technical education societies and industrial associations in various countries, build up a regular contact mechanism, cooperate with each other on guiding the education and teaching reform, deepening the production-education integration and school-enterprise cooperation, and support the improvement of industrial competition. We shall pay great attention to the cooperation between vocational education schools and the well- known enterprises of various countries, so as to cultivate talents jointly Suggestions on Strengthening the Cooperation on Vocational Education Among Asia-Pacific countries

Third, expand the inter-school communication and cooperation. We shall select some qualified vocational schools for education cooperations. In recent years, many partnerships in this kind have been established between China and ASEAN countries. The schools should emphasize the joint efforts in resource sharing and construction, with focus on operations in fields of major construction, curriculum development, teaching materials and methods innovation, teaching pattern reform and staff training, etc Suggestions on Strengthening the Cooperation on Vocational Education Among Asia-Pacific countries

34 Fourth, promote the scientific research exchange among vocation education schools. We shall make a good use of relevant schools and research institutes, build up a system for frequent communications of various countries’ education research institutes, strengthen their academic exchange and research cooperation. We shall encourage these institutes to expand their cooperation in fields of vocational education theories and policy researches, so as to provide effective consultation on policy making for various governments. 3. Suggestions on Strengthening the Cooperation on Vocational Education Among Asia-Pacific countries

Fifth, guide the project and cooperation. We shall further increase the proportion of vocational education communication in current education exchange projects. We shall follow closely the talent demands of transnational companies, organize and carry out relevant activities to improve the talent training quality jointly. We sincerely welcome your delegations to watch or attend the annual national vocational education skills contest in China, so as to promote the mutual communication and improvement in terms of vocational education Suggestions on Strengthening the Cooperation on Vocational Education Among Asia-Pacific countries

Fellow delegates, the international financial crisis has not faded away completely, the recovery of world economy is still full of hardships and setbacks, and the youth employment is far from being positive. To overcome the crisis and recover our economy, we are in need of comprehensive policies and measures. It is undoubtedly an important effective way by promoting the industrial upgrading and transformation and making great efforts to develop the real economy. Therefore, we shall take it as an important measure to overcome the crisis and face the challenges by developing the vocational education and focusing on the reform and innovation of vocational education, so as to promote the economic upgrading and transformation, improve the quality employment and better serve the harmony and development of the world. I believe that with our joint efforts and close cooperation, there will be a brighter future for vocational education! 36 The Situation, Experience and Policy of the Vocational Education in China

Thank You! 37