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Reflections on Optimizing China’s Career Education System

Author(s)

Liang Ding

Affiliation(s)

Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, China

Abstract

In recent years, the concept of “career education” has gained increasing prominence within China’s educational framework, particularly in higher education, where it functions as a pivotal element in talent cultivation and as a crucial mechanism for promoting high-quality, comprehensive employment among graduates. A relatively comprehensive career education system has begun to take shape. Against the backdrop of the new college entrance examination reforms, career education has gradually extended from higher education into primary and secondary education. It has become more widely implemented at these foundational levels and has achieved certain successes. However, discrepancies in evaluation systems between higher and foundational education remain. In primary and secondary education, the focus is directed towards improving “admission rates”, with career education emphasizing subject selection and guidance for college applications. In contrast, higher education prioritizes enhancing “employment rates”, with career education concentrating on career awareness, vocational choices, and skills training. This results in a lack of coherence in career education across different educational stages. Additionally, issues persist in higher education, including repetitive teaching content, uniform teaching methods, a lack of targeted instructional design, and a disconnect between career education and major-specific education. To address these challenges, this paper proposes the development of an integrated career education system-spanning primary, secondary, and higher education, alongside a precise and coordinated career education framework. Strengthening the coordinated promotion of career education from multiple levels, including national, societal, and institutional, will further optimize China’s career education system. This will reinforce the significance of career education, driving high-quality, full employment for graduates and promoting the high-quality development of China’s educational landscape.

Keywords

Career Education; System; Optimization; High-Quality; Development

References

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