Exploring a Competition-Oriented Mechanism for Integrating Moral and Technical Education in Higher Vocational Colleges

In the context of higher vocational education, counselors are not only responsible for student management and psychological support but also play a pivotal role in integrating innovation and entrepreneurship education with ideological and political education (IPE). Guided by a “competition-driven” approach, this study investigates how counselors can effectively embed IPE into students’ innovation and entrepreneurship practices by constructing a tripartite integration mechanism of project orientation, collaborative education, and value guidance. Using the “Pipeline Inspection Robot” project as a case study, the paper explores the counselor’s educational practices in various stages, including team formation, value shaping, competition management, and achievement transformation. Findings suggest that competition-based practice provides authentic scenarios and deep engagement platforms for IPE, effectively enhancing students’ sense of responsibility, teamwork spirit, and professional ideals. The paper further proposes strategies such as improving institutional support, optimizing curriculum integration, and strengthening cross-functional collaboration, offering practical insights for advancing the deep integration of ideological and political education with innovation and entrepreneurship training in vocational colleges.