Making the right choices

Chinese mainland should strengthen its investment in vocational education to tackle the challenge of skills mismatch in its urbanization process, says Charles Cao Quin, vice-principal of Warwickshire College.

"If China wants to become a true global superpower internationally, it has to improve the skill levels of its mass labor market so that it matches up to international standards. This transition will create the basis of a knowledge economy for China," he says.

According to Cao, China's urbanization process has created a demand for skilled technicians and service providers, which are roles often filled by vocational education graduates. Since additional investment has been channeled into universities, China now has a surplus of university graduates who cannot find jobs, he says.