Industry-Education Integration: Modeling Dilemmas and Practical Tensions

Abstract

The integration of industry and education in vocational education is a key Chinese strategy to tackle structural talent imbalances. Through the lenses of model, relation, and institution theory, this study examines its development and dilemmas. Findings reveal: at the micro level, conflicts between corporate technical secrecy and educational publicity hinder knowledge transfer; at the meso level, vague stakeholder roles and weak incentives lead to superficial collaboration (“enthusiastic schools, cold enterprises”); at the macro level, uniform policies ignore regional industrial disparities. To address these, breakthroughs are essential: an integrated cross-level analytical framework, localized risk-benefit sharing mechanisms, and proactive digital ecosystem development. Ultimately, a layered, synergistic institutional ecosystem is crucial for linking the education, talent, industry, and innovation chains effectively.