IMPLEMENTATION PATHWAYS OF "CURRICULUM–CERTIFICATION INTEGRATION" WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF SECONDARY–HIGHER VOCATIONAL EDUCATION ARTICULATION

Abstract

In the context of deepening reforms in vocational education, the integration of secondary and higher vocational education faces challenges such as curriculum redundancy and low alignment between certificates and job requirements, which constrain students’ skill development and the efficiency of educational resources. Based on policy guidance and practical needs, and drawing on successful international experience, this study employs literature research, case analysis, and questionnaire surveys, taking institutions such as Lanzhou Modern Vocational College as research samples to explore the connotation and value of “curriculum–certificate integration” under the perspective of secondary–higher vocational education integration. The findings show that the current curriculum overlap rate reaches 42%, and the alignment rate between certificates and job positions is only 32%. The study proposes a “vocational ability–curriculum–certificate” mapping mechanism, establishing practical pathways such as “school–enterprise co-construction, modular curriculum development, and digital empowerment.” Empirical results indicate that after implementation, students’ certificate pass rates in-creased by 26 percentage points, employment rates improved by 23 percentage points, and the proportion of teachers meeting enterprise practice requirements rose from 52% to 88%. The study concludes that “curriculum–certificate integration” within the framework of secondary–higher vocational education not only promotes continuous curriculum progression and hierarchical skill development but also provides a practical pathway and model for deepening industry–education integration and supporting the development of new-quality productive forces.