International Vocational Education Cooperation Mechanisms and Practical Pathways Led by the China–SCO Vocational and Technical Education Cooperation Center: An Analysis Based on the Triple Helix Theory

Abstract The successful convening of the Tianjin Summit has opened a new chapter in the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). As an important outcome of the summit, the China–SCO Vocational and Technical Education Cooperation Center provides core support and an important platform for advancing international vocational education cooperation toward substantive and institutionalized development. In essence, international vocational education cooperation is a process of knowledge innovation generated through transnational interactions among universities, industries, and governments, which is highly consistent with the interactive and symbiotic university–industry–government relationship revealed by Triple Helix theory. Taking Triple Helix theory as the core analytical framework, this study systematically examines the practical foundations and developmental potential of vocational education cooperation among SCO member states. It further analyzes the international vocational education cooperation mechanism led by the China–SCO Vocational and Technical Education Cooperation Center, focusing on tripartite collaboration among universities, industries, and governments. Specifically, it clarifies the functional positioning of multiple actors, the operational forms of hybrid organizations, and the recursive cycles of multi-stakeholder interaction. On this basis, the study proposes four practical pathways: collaborative planning, collaborative implementation, collaborative empowerment, and collaborative support. The study aims to provide theoretical support and practical reference for deepening international vocational education cooperation within the SCO framework.