Chinese youth leave universities for method schools. Pragmatism wins prestige in the face of the labour marketplace crisis

New standard of success in China: Why have method studies become a career pass?

For decades, the diploma of the prestigious university in China was synonymous with success and guaranteeing a bright future. Today, this image changes rapidly. In the face of economical slowdown and increasing competition, Chinese youth make a pragmatic return, putting employment certainty above the conventional glow of elite education. Vocational and method schools experience a real siege, turning the educational hierarchy upside down.

Pragmatism alternatively of prestige: evidence interest in vocational schools

Modern Chinese youths are increasingly calculating coolly. alternatively of dreaming of a diploma from a renowned but theoretical university, he chooses directions that offer circumstantial skills and almost guaranteed work. This change is seen in recruitment statistics. While any private universities barely fill lecture halls, vocational schools with strong ties to manufacture evidence unprecedented increases in popularity.

A perfect example is Shenzhen Polytechnic, a vocational college that has late acquired university status. This year the number of admissions to undergraduate studies has more than doubled, reaching 910 people. Moreover, the average consequence of the first exams of candidates has flown to a evidence level of 573 points, indicating that any of the best students in the country apply to method courses.

A akin trend is observed in the capital. Beijing College of discipline and Technology This year he first launched undergraduate programs and filled all 600 seats without problem. The university attracted candidates with advanced results for key directions for the improvement of Beijing, specified as the plan of integrated circuits or intelligent production.

Work warrant key selection criterion

What drives this revolution? The answer is simple: a real chance of employment. Universities specified as Shenzhen Polytechnic, formerly called “Tsinghua among vocational schools”, have been building close relations with technological giants specified as Huawei Technologies is Tencent Holdings. specified cooperation brings tangible benefits. According to university data, the employment rate of her graduates in the region in 2024 was awesome 95.8%.spu.edu.cn

Equally important, the earnings of method graduates are becoming increasingly competitive. Graduates of electronic and production specialisation in Shenzhen could number on a starting wage of average 7 315 RMB per month (about PLN 3,724). This is simply a powerful argument in a country where the financial force on young people is enormous.

Government support and no more labeling "worse education"

The transformation is besides supported by a change in state policy. The Chinese government, seeing the increasing mismatch of postgraduate qualifications to marketplace needs, actively promotes vocational education. The key improvement was to give method universities the right to grant a bachelor's degree. This is simply a symbolic but applicable step that equals the position of their graduates with graduates of conventional universities. This allows them to compete freely in recruitments for civilian service, apply for a occupation in corporations or proceed their studies in master's degree.quiny24.com+1

In this way, vocational training is slow dropping from the "second category education" Odium. More and more people appreciate its added value: applicable preparation for the profession and real prospects for well-paid work.

The hard reality of the labour market

This pragmatic return is simply a direct consequence to the hard situation on the Chinese labour market. In July 2025, youth unemployment rates aged 16-24 (excluding students) increased sharply to 17.8%. This is close to the historical maximum and shows the scale of the challenges facing young Chinese increasing up.tradingeconomics.com+1

The force is so large that the phenomenon of the alleged phenomenon was born. ‘reverse education’. any university graduates, incapable to find a occupation in their educated profession, decide to return to the university – this time technical. They sign up for undergraduate studies to get specific, sought-after skills that their employers did not give them a prestigious diploma.

Chinese youth take a step towards reality. erstwhile a conventional educational way based on prestige ceases to be a guarantor of stability, method studies become not so much an alternate as a fresh pragmatic standard of success.

Source:

• Information on Shenzhen Polytechnic's cooperation with industry: https://www.szpt.edu.cn/info/1015/10752.htm
• Data on youth unemployment in China: https://tradingeconomics.com/china/youth-unemployment-rate
• Information on changes in the education strategy in China: https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2021-05/13/content_5606138.htm
• Analysis of the labour marketplace for graduates in China: https://www.chiny24.com/