Collaborative Cultivation of Master Craftsmen
At present, China is undergoing a crucial period in transforming from a manufacturing power to a strong nation, with master craftsmen playing a crucial role as "breakthrough tools" for technological innovation and "driving wheels" for industrial upgrading. How can we cultivate master craftsmen through collaborative education and training, from talent cultivation targets to practical outcomes, and establish an ecosystem that meets China's national conditions? This is the topic that should be covered.
Over the years, China has established a system for cultivating master craftsmen through collaborative education and training. According to statistics from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, China has produced over 200 million skilled workers, including more than 60 million high-skilled workers. For example, Zhejiang Province, as one of the leading provinces in building a skill-based society, focuses on developing strong provinces and has cultivated 12.91 million skilled workers by the end of June 2024, with high-skilled workers accounting for 34.1%. In 2024, the Central Committee and State Council issued an opinion on deepening reforms to the workforce, proposing the establishment of a fusion system between education and industry, which is expected to cultivate 2,000 master craftsmen by 2035. The Education Development Plan (2024-2035) also explicitly proposes building a modern vocational education system, strengthening technical training, and cultivating high-skilled workers.
Cultivating master craftsmen through collaborative education and training should emphasize institutional innovation and policy empowerment, leveraging the government's role in coordinating and guiding efforts. By improving policy incentives and establishing a mechanism linking enterprise investment in talent cultivation to tax breaks and financial subsidies, for example, Anhui and Guangdong provinces have reduced education fees by 30% for certified fusion-type enterprises based on the number of workers they cultivate, enhancing their participation enthusiasm. We can also establish a big data center using modern information technology to integrate multi-party training resources and break down barriers between collaborative education and training domains, achieving precise matching between supply and demand and laying a solid foundation for collaborative education and training.
Enterprises should play the role of main actors in talent cultivation, reshaping the ecosystem for collaborative education and training. Leading enterprises should take the lead in building alliances with local industries to develop fusion-type education and training programs, linking up with industry associations and research institutions to create a new paradigm for collaborative education and training, establishing platforms for talent innovation, and improving vocational training systems.
Local schools should continuously expand their practical training spaces, playing the role of main bases in collaborative education and training. Relevant schools should dynamically adjust their professional settings, course development, and certification standards based on core industrial technologies, ensuring that talent cultivation is in sync with industrial development. Local schools should actively guide students to participate in theoretical learning and practical training, helping them internalize the spirit of Chinese master craftsmen and enhance their professionalism and career recognition.