THE OPTIMIZATION PATH OF HEALTH CARE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION UNDER THE COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION OF INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA AND RESEARCH

With the intensifying aging population in China, the demand for health care service professionals has surged, highlighting the significant gap between supply and demand. Vocational education is regarded as the primary channel for cultivating technical talents in the health care sector. However, challenges such as structural mismatches between education and industry needs, insufficient practical training, and low enterprise participation persist. This study takes Xinyang City in Henan Province as a case to explore the optimization path of health care vocational education through industry-academia-research collaborative innovation. The research integrates collaborative innovation theory and the German "dual system" vocational model as theoretical frameworks. It analyzes the local government's initiatives—such as the construction of the Leishan Jiangu vocational education park and industry-education integration platforms—and identifies key problems like weak coordination mechanisms, limited enterprise engagement, and insufficient “dual-qualified” teaching staff. Based on domestic and international best practices, the study proposes targeted strategies: strengthening collaborative governance mechanisms, enhancing enterprise participation, optimizing curricula and practical teaching systems, and improving policy support. These measures aim to align vocational education with health care industry demands, thus cultivating high-quality talents and supporting sustainable development in the context of population aging.