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Research on the Pathways to Structural Optimization of Vocational Education in Japan: An Exploration of the Systems of Professional Universities and Professional Junior Colleges

Author(s)

Chao Zhou1,*, Jie Fan2, Yujie Zhou1, Rong Xu3, Zexiang Li4

Affiliation(s)

1Jing Hengyi School of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China 2School of Education Science, Bohai University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China 3School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China 4Melbourne Business School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia *Corresponding Author

Abstract

Responding to the dual challenges posed by the rise of the knowledge economy and industrial restructuring, Japan has systematically restructured its vocational education system by establishing “Professional Universities” and “Professional Junior Colleges” This initiative aims to create a new paradigm where academic education and vocational training operate in parallel. The origins of this system lie in the industry's demand for high-level professional talent, which compelled reforms in educational supply, as well as the structural need for functional differentiation within the education system itself. The core features of the new system include deep industry-education integration, where curricula and teaching models are co-designed through university-enterprise collaboration to enhance practice-oriented instruction; the development of specialized courses based on regional industrial strengths to align talent cultivation with local economic ecosystems; and the establishment of flexible academic structures and lifelong learning pathways to break down traditional boundaries in student recruitment. These measures not only fill the institutional gap in vocational undergraduate education but also form a complete system that enables vertical articulation between secondary vocational education and higher education. This offers valuable insights for the transformation of vocational education in China.

Keywords

Vocational Education; Professional University; Professional Junior College; Vocational Undergraduate Education

References

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