"AI + Education" Action Plan Implemented: New Blueprint for Digital and Intelligent Transformation of Vocational Colleges

Policy Background

Recently, the Ministry of Education and four other departments jointly issued the "Artificial Intelligence + Education" Action Plan (hereinafter referred to as the "Action Plan"), providing a systematic deployment for the deep integration of artificial intelligence and education during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. As the specific implementation of the State Council's "Opinions on Deeply Implementing the 'AI+' Action" in the education sector, the launch of the Action Plan clarifies the direction for upgrading vocational college majors and reforming talent training models.

Four core tasks to anchor the 2030 year goal

The "Action Plan" clearly states that by2030 yearsA comprehensive framework for the deep integration of artificial intelligence and education has been established, creating a vertically connected AI curriculum across all educational levels and a horizontally integrated general AI education system for society as a whole.

To achieve this goal, the Action Plan has deployedFour Core Tasks1. Advance talent development and literacy enhancement by establishing a general education system spanning all educational stages and the entire society. 2. Promote deep integration of technology and education to fully empower student learning, teacher instruction, school governance, and research innovation. 3. Strengthen the "AI + Education" infrastructure, with a focus on building the National Educational Intelligent Computing Power Service Platform (Education Intelligence Network). 4. Build an open ecosystem by creating a collaborative mechanism among government, industry, academia, research, and finance, while enhancing international cooperation and security safeguards.

Vocational colleges embrace intelligent upgrades to their programs

For vocational colleges, the Action Plan sends a clear signal for reform. The core mission of vocational education is to drive the intelligent upgrade of traditional majors and cultivate high-skilled talents who can adapt to and lead industry transformation. Institutions must scientifically design "AI+" major systems and significantly improve the alignment between program offerings and industrial development.

In terms of specific measures, the "Action Plan" requires:

• Professional Expertise: Add cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence and the low-altitude economy; explore establishing "micro-majors" and practical "micro-courses".
• Textbooks: Accelerate the development and adoption of new textbook formats, including digital textbooks and loose-leaf textbooks.
• TeachingDeepen joint development of training programs and practical training bases by universities and enterprises, promote co-creation and sharing of textbooks, and build a high-quality faculty with both teaching and industry expertise.
• Practical TrainingEstablish future training centers such as "Vocational Education Workshops," increase investment in virtual simulation training bases, and fully leverage the foundational support role of the National Smart Education Platform.

At the same time, the "Action Plan" explicitly calls for launching a high-skilled talent cluster development program in the field of artificial intelligence to cultivate urgently needed high-skilled professionals for emerging AI roles.

Coordinated Implementation of Supporting Policies and Projects

In addition to the Action Plan, the Ministry of Education simultaneously issued the "Opinions on Deepening Reforms in Key Elements of Vocational Education Teaching" as a supporting document. This document sets specific requirements for curriculum and major design in vocational institutions, emphasizing the strengthening of general education courses in STEM and artificial intelligence (AI). It aims to address the disconnect between vocational education and industry needs.

At the project level, the Ministry of Education's Technology Department has launched applications for the "AI-Empowered Vocational College-Enterprise Joint Construction Project." Focusing on key fields such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and the low-altitude economy, this initiative aims to establish joint industry-academia consortia. The application deadline is2026 7, 31。

Furthermore, the 202026 national education work conference further emphasized that vocational education will introduce new majors in fields such as artificial intelligence this year and establish internship bases in collaboration with enterprises, advancing policy implementation into a substantive phase.

Seize opportunities and accelerate digital intelligence transformation

Industry experts note that a series of policies led by the "AI + Education Action Plan" provide vocational institutions with clear top-level design and actionable guidance. Schools should seize this window of opportunity to proactively adjust their program offerings, restructure curricula, and enhance faculty capabilities, positioning themselves ahead in the new AI-driven vocational education track. Institutions with the necessary resources should promptly initiate and submit proposals for industry-academia collaboration projects to keep pace with the latest reforms in vocational education.