In recent years, "bachelor's degree + skill certificate" has become the configuration of many college graduates when they are looking for jobs, and the phenomenon of some undergraduate graduates going to vocational colleges to learn skills has aroused social concern. Why do many undergraduate graduates choose to study in vocational colleges? What does this phenomenon give us to think about? The reporter interviewed about this.
It is not only due to interest but also to need career development
I still like to be adventurous, and my heart is full of yearning for the sea. In March 2023, Tang Jing chose to come to Jiangsu Maritime Vocational and Technical College for training in the one-year third deputy class.
Tang Jing, a graduate of Jiangsu University majoring in agricultural engineering, gave up her favorite navigation major due to her parents' wishes during the college entrance examination, and after graduating in 2016, she worked in wind power design. Due to the fact that her work was very different from her own interests, Tang Jing came up with the idea of studying navigation-related majors again, and finally applied for Jiangsu Maritime Vocational and Technical College.
Tang Jing is not alone. Since 2020, more than 270 graduates with bachelor's degree or above have obtained technical skills certificates from Jiangsu Maritime Vocational and Technical College.
According to the statistics of Guangdong Lingnan Vocational and Technical College, in the past two years, the school has recruited more than 150 graduates with bachelor's degree or above to study and obtain technical skills certificates, including psychological counselors, public nutritionists and health managers. Several graduates said that skills learning could give them a new direction in their careers.
There are two main reasons for undergraduates to return to vocational colleges after graduation, one is that they are not satisfied with their current jobs; Second, professional and technical work has high pay and strong attractiveness. Wang Songming, dean of the School of Continuing Education of Jiangsu Maritime Vocational and Technical College, said.
Jin Ziwei, an assistant researcher at the Chinese Academy of Education Sciences, said that there are both subjective and objective reasons for the phenomenon of undergraduates studying in vocational schools.
Objectively, the number of college graduates has been rising in recent years. Due to the deviation between the structure and type structure of higher education and the demand of the labor market, the characteristics of high growth and low employment of college graduates have emerged. The changes in the economic structure and the continuous upgrading of the industrial structure have increased the demand for skilled talents in the market, forcing some undergraduates to 'return' to vocational schools. From a subjective point of view, this reflects the more diverse and rational career choice attitude of the college students. Jin Ziwei said.
Respect students' differentiated development and right to choose
Regardless of whether they choose actively or passively, these students do not 'lie flat', but continue to work hard, overcome prejudices from their families and society, pursue better career development, and shape a better version of themselves, which is worthy of recognition. Lu Xiaodong, a researcher at Peking University's School of Education, said.
Lu Xiaodong strongly opposes the use of the word "re-furnace" to describe the vocational education of undergraduates. "'Refurnace' originally referred to the re-melting of scrap iron or substandard steel to remove impurities and thus become a qualified metal, which precisely reflects the outdated view of hierarchical talent. Human development is not only the pursuit of higher education, but also the improvement of ability to master a technical skill. In Lu Xiaodong's view, learning is free, education is tolerant, and people should have the opportunity and right to self-development at any stage.
In the long run, going to a vocational school after graduating from a bachelor's degree is not inferior. The key is whether you can make use of your strengths and whether you can make a substantial contribution to society. Jin Ziwei said that it is necessary to respect the differentiated development and educational choices of students, so that they can achieve excellence in different tracks.
Social development needs both Einstein and Luban. Liu Jingzhong, former vice president of Xuzhou Finance and Economics Higher Vocational and Technical School in Jiangsu Province, believes that all walks of life need different types of talents. The development of enterprises needs not only academic talents cultivated by general education, but also technical and skilled talents cultivated by vocational education. "There is no high or low profession, and it is not appropriate to distinguish between high and low academics. In the context of difficult employment, it is necessary to create a trend of the times in which labor is glorious and skills are valuable, and guide graduates to be down-to-earth, conform to the needs of social development, and give full play to their personal interests and specialties. ”
In the face of structural contradictions, colleges and universities should enhance their "adaptability".
No matter what academic qualifications or majors, they will ultimately serve the society. Duan Junyi, dean of the School of Communication and Signal of Nanjing Railway Vocational and Technical College, said that there is a great shortage of high-level technical skills in the society, and highly educated talents are very welcome to devote themselves to the technical skills industry to promote the overcoming of technical problems.
In Lu Xiaodong's view, in the face of the structural contradiction between education and employment, colleges and universities should enhance "adaptability", adjust the layout of majors in a timely manner according to the development of science and technology and economic and social needs, optimize the allocation of resources, and provide students with more opportunities and support.
At present, there are shortcomings in general education in colleges and universities, which cannot keep up with the pace of economic and social development in a timely manner. In addition, there are institutional barriers to education, and graduates still face many obstacles in pursuing a second master's degree and a second bachelor's degree to improve their knowledge structure and enhance their personal abilities. Lu Xiaodong said.
In Duan's view, many technologies originate from enterprises and will eventually be applied to enterprises. Therefore, undergraduates should be trained by category and do a good job in interdisciplinary and industry-education integration. It is necessary to think about the professional positioning from the perspective of industrial development, set up professional courses according to social needs, break through the boundaries between general vocational education, and realize the organic integration between the two.
When vocational colleges carry out social training, they should also make use of their own professional advantages, introduce cutting-edge courses for jobs, and create a more high-quality teaching team. The ultimate purpose of training is employment, therefore, vocational schools should work closely with enterprises to form a whole chain of enrollment, training and employment, and provide opportunities for outstanding talents to work directly in enterprises. Duan Junyi said.
Jin Ziwei suggested that at the macro level, colleges and universities should focus on the major strategic needs of the country, dynamically adjust and optimize the discipline settings, and at the same time work hard to promote the integration of vocational education, industry and education, and science and education, and continuously cultivate high-quality technical and skilled talents, craftsmen and skilled craftsmen. At the micro level, colleges and universities should guide graduates to adjust their employment concepts and expectations, broaden the radius of career choice, and prevent graduates from being negatively employed.
China Education Daily, 2024-02-02, 2nd edition
Authors: trainee reporter Hu Ruohan, reporter Jiao Yixuan, Dong Lu Wanlong.