Configurational Paths for Digital Technology Empowering Quality Improvement in Vocational Education: Evidence from China

Abstract Systematically revealing the critical factors and differentiated pathways through which digital technology empowers the high-quality development of vocational education is pivotal for decision-making in educational modernization. Grounded in the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, this study employs fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to investigate the configurational paths of digital technology empowerment in vocational education. The results indicate that this empowerment process is driven by the synergistic interaction of multiple factors rather than single conditions. Four distinct configurational paths were identified:Technology-Prominent,Resource-Aggregation, Talent-Cultivation Enhancement and Technology-Improvement with Environmental-Safeguard. Based on these findings, we propose the following policy implications: first, establish a multi-dimensional collaborative policy framework that ensures adaptive fit among factors; second, prioritize technological advancement and environmental infrastructure to activate the kinetic energy of digital-vocational integration; and third, implement region-specific matching strategies to promote balanced and equitable improvements in digital empowerment levels across different regions.