A growing trend known as "reverse education" is emerging at Shandong Medicine Technician College in Tai'an, where university graduates are choosing to return to vocational schools to acquire practical skills, moving from isolated individual cases to a structured, large-scale program.
In recent years, multiple regions have introduced policies encouraging technical colleges to establish university graduate technician classes to boost high-quality employment. Located in Tai'an, Shandong Medicine Technician College has identified this social demand and become a pioneer by launching a preparatory technician class specifically for bachelor's and associate degree graduates. The college has formed deep partnerships with companies like JD Group and Qilu Pharmaceutical, creating a new model that combines academic credentials with technical skills for quality employment.
"Currently, the job market faces issues where graduates have strong academic backgrounds but lack practical skills, leading to mismatches in job placements," explained Lu Yiyuan, Deputy Director of the Admissions and Employment Office at Shandong Medicine Technician College. In response to national policies encouraging technical colleges to offer graduate technician classes for high-quality employment, the college has opened this preparatory technician class, targeting both recent and past bachelor's and associate degree graduates.
Yu Yang, Party Branch Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Business College at Shandong Medicine Technician College, stated, "We are addressing the employment gap where university graduates have degrees but no hands-on experience." According to Yu, this "retraining class" for graduates has a higher positioning, focusing on cultivating reserve management talent. The program lasts two years and follows a "1+1" model: the first year is spent learning skills on campus, while the second year involves practical training at companies.
Yu noted that to stay aligned with industry frontiers, the Pharmaceutical Business College has upgraded its traditional logistics major to focus on low-altitude economy fields this year, training talent in drone delivery and unmanned vehicle operations. The college has established a low-altitude economy industry college with JD Group, bringing actual enterprise equipment directly onto campus to create a "school-based factory" model. "We let students interact with the same equipment they will use in future jobs, ensuring seamless integration upon graduation," Yu said. "Students who pass assessments can directly enter management positions at JD, opening pathways for both technical and management career advancement."
"In fact, university graduates returning to technical schools for 'reverse education' is not new," said Chen Weiwei, Dean of the Pharmaceutical Engineering College at Shandong Medicine Technician College. "In recent years, many students from computer science or design backgrounds have chosen to 'retrain' in pharmacy to expand their career options. Previously, they were placed into regular technical classes with varying starting points, making it difficult to match teaching paces."
The biggest change this year is the creation of a dedicated class for this group, with customized training plans. As a public institution directly under the Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security, Shandong Medicine Technician College has long focused on the healthcare field. Chen explained that the college's programs in pharmaceutical preparation and drug analysis and testing are core majors within Shandong's traditional Chinese medicine health industry group.
This year, the Pharmaceutical Engineering College launched its first "University Graduate + Technician" class, adopting a "school-enterprise dual mentor, work-study integration" training model in collaboration with companies. During internships, students can earn monthly salaries ranging from 4,500 to 6,000 yuan, and the overall employment rate after graduation remains stable at over 95%.
Moving from a "degree-only" mindset to valuing skills, more college graduates are choosing "reverse education" not as a step backward in their careers, but as a rational decision to adapt to industrial development and achieve personal value. As a public institution, all students at Shandong Medicine Technician College benefit from the national tuition-free policy, paying only for accommodation and textbooks, with access to grants, significantly lowering the economic barrier to retraining.
From "insertion into existing classes" to "dedicated class formation," this exploration by Shandong Medicine Technician College reflects a shift where university graduates' "reverse education" is evolving from individual choices to systematic, large-scale training. Chen Weiwei acknowledged that creating separate classes is both a response to market demand and a reflection of changing social attitudes. "Now, more students and parents understand: degrees are the key to the door, but skills are the real currency. Holding both in hand allows you to walk more steadily on the road ahead," Chen said.
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