An education forum on fostering vocational talents was held on Jan 13 in Beijing to discuss deepening of the integration of production and education, and facilitating links between academia, talents and industry.

An education forum on vocational talents cultivation is held on Jan 13 in Beijing. [Photo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The forum, co-sponsored by the University of Modern Administration, Chuangyou Shares, the International Financial Talents Training Institute and IVY Bridge Group, focused on how to build an industrial system of coordinated development combining the real economy, scientific and technological innovation, modern finance and human resources.

Chen Ziji, director of the Education Development and Research Center under the Ministry of Education, makes a keynote speech at the forum. [Photo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Chen Ziji, director of the Education Development and Research Center under the Ministry of Education, said that "vocational education is an integral part of China's education system" and the education and training system must be further improved.

He said closer cooperation between schools and enterprises is an important path.

"The vocational schools now have limited decision-making power to meet the demands of the market," Chen said.

The reform of the system is going into deep water, he added.

Lin Hua, former secretary-general of the human resources academic committee of the National Development and Reform Commission, addresses the forum. [Photo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Lin Hua, former secretary-general of the human resources academic committee of the National Development and Reform Commission, spoke about the role of enterprises in vocational education.

He said that vocational education has its own comparative advantages since it's usually short-termed and pragmatic.

Lu Jiandong, president of Beijing-based Zhongqi Chuangyou, an enterprise management and consulting company, speaks at the forum. [Photo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Lu Jiandong, president of Beijing-based Zhongqi Chuangyou, an enterprise management and consulting company, said the talents cultivated by the vocational schools in China to a certain degree don't meet the demands of the market.

"Many graduates need re-training before taking up their posts," Lu said.

To solve the bottleneck, industry professionals in the market must be hired to provide hands-on experience and the latest information, he said.

The launching ceremony to build the Shangdong branch of the University of Modern Administration [Photo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The forum also witnessed the launching ceremony establishing the Shangdong branch of the University of Modern Administration.