Vocational schools and companies in Zhejiang province have been coordinating to promote local vocational education in recent years. 

The Zhejiang Energy College, jointly established by the Zhejiang Machinery and Electrical Group, Zhejiang Energy Group and Zhejiang Institute of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, opened on May 12. Fifty-six students will receive practical training in the two companies.

Upon completion of their studies, these students will each receive a diploma from the Zhejiang Institute of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering and a professional certificate from the Zhejiang Energy College. They can also choose to sign a labor contract with the Zhejiang Energy Group.

The two companies will offer monthly allowances to students and cover their accommodation and travel expenses.

Huang Jianfei, deputy director of the organization department of Zhejiang Energy Group, said the school was built as the company wanted to cooperate with the Zhejiang Institute of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering to accelerate the cultivation of urgently-needed skilled workers.

Local authorities have said that Zhejiang needs to strengthen vocational education and cultivate more skilled workers to boost its manufacturing sector.

Nearly 90 percent of the graduates from Ningbo Polytechnic work in Zhejiang while 65 percent of them work in Ningbo.

Currently, more than 100 vocational schools in the province have established partnerships with nearly 7,000 companies. Hangzhou Vocational & Technical College pioneered the practice of co-running the school with companies over a decade ago. In 2019, the practice was included in the national reform plan for vocational education.

In addition, the Alibaba Digital Trade School opened on Jan 3. Jinhua Polytechnic has established an aviation machinery manufacturing facility with some aviation companies.

All 15 vocational schools in Zhejiang were selected as national high-level vocational schools last year, and many of their students have won national and world vocational skills competitions in recent years.