From Scale to Structure: Deficiencies in Chinese-foreign Cooperation in Vocational Education and a Replicable Pathway for Cultivating International Craftsmen under the Double High Plan

Abstract

Through a quantitative analysis of publicly available Ministry of Education data on Chinese-foreign cooperation in vocational education, this paper reveals both the scale and the structural deficiencies of the current landscape in terms of regional distribution, educational resources, and program offerings. The aggregate picture is one of rapid expansion alongside persistent imbalance: by late 2024, locally approved and MOE-registered higher vocational cooperation programs and institutions numbered 1,181, comprising 58 institutions and 1,123 programs—programs accounting for over 95% of the total—spread across 29 provincial-level regions and 30 partner countries and territories. The pathway proceeds along four dimensions: adjusting the strategic goals and top-level plans of Chinese-foreign cooperation so that it aligns with outbound industrial capacity rather than credential supply; optimizing existing cooperation majors toward intelligent manufacturing, digital economy, and other priority fields; expanding the “going global” route through branded platforms such as the 36 Luban Workshops in 30 countries and enterprise-embedded Silk Road colleges that accompany Chinese firms abroad; and exploring a new model of international talent cultivation through the integration of production and education, in which standards, curricula, and work-based learning are co-designed with enterprises. Together, these measures constitute a transferable framework for vocational colleges seeking to convert international cooperation from a scale-driven accessory into a strategic instrument for cultivating internationally competent artisans