An Analysis of Vocational Education Reform in Western China Since 2010s: Neoliberal Policies and Rural Transformation

In China, where economic growth is emphasized since 1980s, the vocational education and training (VET) policies are strongly influenced by economic needs. The development of VET is perceived as a tool to help with the country’s economic and social progress, especially as it aligns with the shift towards a high-skills value-added economy.Therefore, the VET reform started from 2010s placed particular emphasis on the role of VET in industrial transformation.

This paper analyzes China’s vocational education reforms over the past decade, focusing on the development of VET in western regions (TAR and Qinghai). Through field interviews, and analysing data from existing databases, policy documents, and media reports, this study examines education outcomes and changes after vocational education reform in Tibetan communities, including the enrollment, standards-setting, language barriers, and the increasing role of enterprises. It argues that the reforms reflect a neoliberal tendency, shifting the burden of social inequality and the consequences of individual choices onto participants in the vocational education system. Though the setting of vocational education programs try to meet economic needs, they often fall behind or do not fit local economic conditions. As a result, the employment difficulties are imposed on students and local educators in the form of 'employment rates.'

Additionally, the paper highlights the unique characteristics of China’s VET policies, which are closely tied to the country's urban-rural dual structure. Vocational education plays a critical role in facilitating labor migration between rural and urban areas. However, it also leads to rural brain drain and shows an implicit functions of buying regional stability in Western China. Meanwhile, vocational education often enrolls local students who have tendency to work in local communities, thereby offering new hope for rural society and culture.