Zero-Gap Talent Cultivation Meets Port & Shipping Demands: Qingdao Harbor Vocational College's "Campus-Port Integration" Model

At Qingdao Harbor Vocational College (referred to as "Harbor College"), students train on remote-operation simulation systems for port machinery like gantry cranes and quay cranes in the Shandong Port Industry-Education Integration Hall, where live footage from Qingdao Port's fully automated container terminal is displayed. This exemplifies the college’s daily teaching approach.

As a state-run higher vocational institution under Shandong Port Group, Harbor College ensures "zero-gap" alignment between talent cultivation and port-shipping industry needs through its "campus-port integration" model, seamlessly connecting education with industrial chains.

"While adhering to vocational education principles, we leverage institutional advantages to drive industry-education-research collaboration—literally bringing the port into classrooms and the classroom to the port," said Xu Guowang, the college’s Party Secretary.

**Strengthening Port & Shipping Disciplines** Focusing on emerging productive forces in the sector, Harbor College aligns its programs with strategic and pillar industries of ports. It has built a specialized cluster covering maritime technology, port machinery & intelligent control, and modern logistics management, according to Wang Hao, Director of Academic Affairs.

The college added 11 new programs, including emergency rescue technology and international cruise services, while upgrading traditional fields like port electromechanics and smart shipping to meet trends in automation, sustainability, and digitalization.

Integrating 5G, AI, and autonomous driving into curricula, the college incorporates 12 globally pioneering technologies from Qingdao Port, such as its "Hydrogen + 5G" automated terminal, ensuring teaching scenarios mirror real-world operations.

During a recent simulated quay crane training session, instructor Zhang Zhongli guided students using real-time terminal feeds. "The simulation replicates actual workflows, helping students master container handling skills," he noted.

**Innovative Industry-Academia Collaboration** To bridge talent supply and industry demand, Harbor College has established flexible, sustainable partnerships. President Zhao Qingsong emphasized its commitment to the Ministry of Education’s "Double High Plan," fostering open and adaptive vocational education to cultivate skilled talent for industrial growth.

The college operates 309 practice bases, including 40 co-built with Shandong Port Group, and offers 17 smart-port projects. Programs like "Order Classes" and apprenticeships enable graduates to transition directly into jobs.

"Curriculum tailored to corporate needs boosts graduates’ competitiveness," said Gao Juan, a port machinery instructor.

Breaking barriers between academia and industry, the college employs master craftsmen like Xu Zhenchao and Guo Kai as adjunct professors, while 90% of its port-shipping faculty have frontline port experience.

Student Wang Pengcheng, who won a municipal entrepreneurship award for his container door automation project, credited industry mentors: "Their technical expertise and market insights were pivotal from start to finish."

Backed by this ecosystem, Harbor College has supplied over 80,000 graduates to ports nationwide and trained 100,000+ seafarers.

"With ‘Double High’ development as our engine, we’re building a vocational education hub centered on port electromechanics and modern navigation," stated Zhao Qingsong.