27 new majors aim to bolster skilled talent

The Ministry of Education announced on Thursday the addition of 27 new higher education vocational majors to strengthen the country's pool of highly skilled talent, with enrollment set to begin in 2027.

The new programs include nine junior college vocational majors and 18 vocational undergraduate majors. The expansion is aimed at cultivating skilled workers for emerging industries while supporting the development of a modern industrial system and the high-quality growth of the service sector.

The new majors focus on key areas including the digital economy, the low-altitude economy, artificial intelligence, high-end equipment, urban renewal and sectors with pressing livelihood needs.

To meet demand from emerging industries, the ministry has introduced majors such as humanoid robot engineering technology, digital twin engineering technology and vehicle-to-everything communication technology, corresponding to new occupations included in the national occupational classification directory.

In the service sector, new undergraduate majors such as technology brokerage services and low-altitude transport engineering technology have been introduced to help move industries up the value chain.

Meanwhile, junior college majors, including infant family nurturing and guidance, and wellness tourism operations and management, have been added to help address shortages of skilled workers.

Since the first release of the vocational education majors directory in 2021, China has added a cumulative 169 majors, accounting for 11 percent of the total directory.

An official with the ministry's Department of Vocational and Adult Education said rapidly developing sectors such as embodied intelligence and the low-altitude economy are creating demand for skilled workers faster than the typical three-to-four-year talent training cycle can meet.

To narrow that gap, vocational education has prioritized urgent industrial needs when adjusting its academic offerings. For example, embodied intelligence robotics was added in 2025, while the 2026 update introduces humanoid robotics engineering and other new programs, the official said.

The official said the shortage of skilled professionals in the digital economy and smart manufacturing has exceeded 10 million nationwide, prompting the addition of six new digital majors, including computing-network integration engineering and digital twin engineering.

The updated directory also includes a major in theatrical costume and prop design to help preserve traditional craftsmanship and support intangible cultural heritage, the official said.

The ministry stressed that new majors should be established in an orderly manner to avoid blind imitation. It also pledged to improve the rapid-response mechanism for adjusting academic programs and launch a comprehensive revision of the directory when appropriate.

Vocational schools have already begun aligning their programs with the national initiative by introducing majors tailored to industrial transformation.

Changchun Polytechnic University has stepped up efforts to cultivate interdisciplinary talent for the low-altitude economy to keep pace with the city's industrial development, according to a report published by China Education Daily on Thursday.

At the university's newly established Low-Altitude Economy Industry School, more than 30 drones are regularly deployed on the campus sports ground for hands-on training, where students navigate obstacle courses and complete assigned flight routes.

"I thought it was just about learning to control the machines, but later I realized drones have vast application scenarios in logistics delivery, pesticide spraying and scenic aerial photography," said Cai Xiaoya, a second-year student majoring in drone technology.

The university is integrating drone technology into its traditional academic strengths, encouraging students to apply their skills in low-altitude logistics, smart tourism and modern agriculture, a move that aligns with Changchun's ambition to become a "space city", the report said.

With training facilities covering more than 8,000 square meters, the program aims to cultivate professionals with expertise in manufacturing, operations and research and development across the entire industry chain, it said.

Sun Haibo, dean of the low-altitude economy industry school, said it has also partnered with the Changchun Changguang Boxiang UAV Co, allowing top students to participate directly in drone manufacturing as well as research and development, preparing them to become high-end drone pilots.