DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOL–ENTERPRISE COLLABORATIVE OF CHINESE VOCATIONAL UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

School-enterprise collaboration constitutes a foundational model of vocational education and a critical pathway for cultivating high-quality technical talent in China. This paper examines the current state, challenges, and optimization pathways of school-enterprise collaborative education in Chinese vocational universities. Drawing upon symbiosis theory, the analysis identifies three primary challenges: mismatch between talent cultivation goals and enterprise needs, weak institutional mechanisms for sustained cooperation, and insufficient faculty capacity. Based on the policy landscape and institutional practices, the paper then proposes corresponding strategies, including deepening symbiotic units to enhance complementary advantages, improving the symbiotic environment to strengthen stakeholder coordination, and optimizing symbiotic modes to promote two-way interaction between schools and enterprises. These strategies aim to achieve long-term, stable cooperation between vocational universities and enterprises, thereby better serving China's industrial upgrading and economic transformation. The findings contribute to the broader understanding of vocational education-industry integration and offer practical implications for policymakers and educational administrators.