Research on the Development of Vocational Undergraduate Education in China: Evolution, Characteristics, and Practical Directions

Abstract Exploring vocational education at the undergraduate level and advancing the development of vocational undergraduate institutions are crucial for improving the modern vocational education system, addressing the realistic needs of economic and industrial transformation, and aligning with the trend of differentiated higher education development. The evolution of vocational undergraduate education in China can be divided into three stages: the framework construction and exploration phase, the critical phase of expansion and quality improvement, and the phase of deepening connotations and development. The practices of vocational undergraduate education in China exhibit three key characteristics: diverse and innovative approaches, industry-education integration with collaborative governance, and regulated operations under the standard-guidance. To further develop vocational undergraduate education, it is proposed to clarify institutional positioning to avoid “academic drift”, emphasize serving industries by cultivating innovative talent, promote the internationalization of vocational education to achieve industry-education alignment, and facilitate high-quality employment to reshape value recognition.