YONGZHOU, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Walking into Yongzhou Qunhan Technology Co., Ltd., one sees students majoring in machining at Xintian County Vocational Secondary School working in pairs or small teams, methodically completing machine setup, material polishing and other processes, and machining products according to drawings under the guidance of teachers and practical training instructors.

　　What meets the eye is a vivid exploration of "industry-education integration" in Xintian County. In recent years, Xintian County has proceeded from its actual conditions, aimed to "serve the local economy and connect with local industries," and implemented "order-based" classes and work-study alternating training in industry-education integration, moving classrooms into workshops so that schools and enterprises move toward each other and educate people collaboratively, effectively resolving the "difficulty of finding employment" and the "shortage of labor."

Students majoring in machining at Xintian County Vocational Secondary School machining products according to drawings. Photo by Xiao Yaxiang

　　Eighteen-year-old Zhang Pinghu is one of the students benefiting from Xintian County's active exploration of the school-enterprise cooperation model of "factory within school, school within factory." As a vocational secondary school graduate, Zhang Pinghu went through the path from practical training to internship at Qunhan Technology. Although still young, he is already a formal technician at the company. It is understood that Xintian County produces hundreds of graduates like him every year.

　　"I can work right at my doorstep, and there are many experienced master craftsmen who have helped me rapidly improve my professional skills and complete the transformation from student to member of society," Zhang Pinghu said.

　　Hunan Xinyutian New Materials Co., Ltd. is a high-tech enterprise producing new-material ceramic components. In its production workshop, there are likewise many technicians and interns from Xintian County Vocational Secondary School. The company has a productive practical training and internship environment that can provide students with a place for practical research to expand their theoretical knowledge and improve their professional skills, helping them achieve a seamless transition from graduation to employment.

　　"This place provides us with a platform and space for technical research, enabling me to apply what I have learned; once I truly master the technology, I won't worry about not finding a job after graduation." Facing the upcoming graduation season, Peng Yaoxing, a student at Xintian County Vocational Secondary School, appeared relaxed and at ease.

Students majoring in machining at Xintian County Vocational Secondary School complete machine setup, material polishing and other processes under the guidance of teachers. Photo by Xiao Yaxiang

　　The key to industry-education integration lies in "integration." In order to closely link teaching with industry and achieve seamless connection, Xintian County has identified the points of convergence between schools and enterprises, carried out unified integration of elements, and also achieved the two goals of "teaching" and "production" according to enterprise-style operating models.

　　It is learned that after schools and enterprises sign contracts, schools set up curriculum systems according to enterprises' work processes, job skill and overall quality requirements, and effectively solve the problem of disconnection between teaching and production through three progressive stages: theoretical practice, skill training and production internship; enterprises, in turn, send key technicians to serve as students' practical training instructors, carrying out hands-on practical teaching so that the trained talent can take up posts immediately upon graduation, thus bridging the last mile between employment and labor demand.

　　At present, Xintian County is focusing on the county's "one main, one special" development, guiding the vocational secondary school and multiple enterprises in the park to launch a new school-enterprise "dual system" teaching model; it has also, around the "Xintian Nanny" brand, opened characteristic vocational education majors such as domestic service and health care for the elderly. Through integration of industry and education, diversification of schooling and practical training, it is comprehensively advancing the reform and innovation of vocational education, truly achieving all-round skilled talent cultivation that combines teaching with practical training, theory with practice, and study with employment.