Education powerhouse: China blueprint tackles talent crunch, tech self-reliance

A State Council blueprint issued on Monday sets out 15 flagship programmes to build China into an education powerhouse, including strengthening vocational training, placing greater emphasis on science and engineering, and creating “globally influential” training centres for doctoral students.

The plan sought to “look beyond education itself”, the ministry said, adding that the core aim was to strengthen education’s role in supporting economic and social development amid demographic change and technological disruption.

According to the plan, authorities would encourage prestigious overseas universities specialising in science and engineering to establish cooperative educational programmes in China, and leading companies to run or co-run vocational schools.

It also set a series of quantitative targets, including about 100 regional industry-education consortiums, 200 vocational training bases in key sectors, more than 100 engineering and technology centres, and about 300 training bases for top students in foundational disciplines.