Over 800 aspiring craftsmen recently convened at Shanghai Open University as the seventh session of the "Craftsmanship Academy" and the third "Craftsman Degree Program" kicked off under the theme "A Date with AI." This free initiative, open to employees across all industries in the city, offers introductory courses on artificial intelligence, transforming cutting-edge topics such as large model applications and AI role empowerment into accessible educational resources for the public. The program accommodates workers with varied industry backgrounds and technical proficiencies, effectively lowering the barrier for employees to engage with emerging digital technologies.
This public welfare initiative is a collaborative effort between the Shanghai Federation of Trade Unions and Shanghai Open University. In August of this year, the "Catalogue of Urgently Needed High-Skill Talent Occupations (2026)" took effect, listing "AI Trainer" among its ranks, reflecting Shanghai's escalating demand for digitally versatile professionals. In response, Shanghai Open University has aligned its offerings with the pressing talent needs of the industrial sector by leveraging both its degree and non-degree education platforms. Through the "Craftsmanship Academy" and "Craftsman Degree Program" under the Shanghai Craftsman College, the institution is delivering tiered and targeted AI talent development initiatives.
For technical core staff, the "Craftsman Degree Program" provides systematic academic education with majors in artificial intelligence and mechanical and electronic engineering. Notably, among the 57 participants enrolled in this program, nearly 70% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Additionally, many students possess senior technician or advanced worker certifications, and some have earned provincial, ministerial, or national accolades. While tailoring distinct learning content to diverse student profiles, the Shanghai Craftsman College also facilitates a seamless pathway from publicly accessible science education to formal degree advancement. Through the credit bank system, participants can convert their learning experiences from the "Craftsmanship Academy" into credits, which can then be retrieved and certified when enrolling in the "Craftsman Degree Program."
By simultaneously promoting digital skills for the general workforce and specialized training for professionals, the initiative is equipping Shanghai's industrial upgrade with a pipeline of suitably qualified digital talent. "Modern employee learning has evolved well beyond the scope of traditional manufacturing skills training," remarked Bao Qifan, Dean of the Shanghai Craftsman College. He observed that frontline workers today exhibit a pronounced interest in accessible, digital, and cross-disciplinary learning. Throughout its operation, the "Craftsmanship Academy" has upheld an inclusive enrollment philosophy, without imposing prohibitive entry criteria, and has carefully balanced work-study conflicts, allowing employees to continuously enhance their capabilities without stepping away from their job responsibilities.
Classroom instruction features both model workers and corporate technical experts imparting time-honored skills and hands-on practices, alongside university scholars decoding the frontiers of artificial intelligence and digital technology transformations. After six years of cultivation, the learner profile of the "Craftsmanship Academy" has expanded considerably. The industry mix has diversified—trainees from the information technology and internet sectors now represent the largest cohort, while participation from education, research, and healthcare fields is steadily climbing. Educational attainment among participants has also risen; previously, fewer than 40% held a bachelor's degree or higher, whereas nearly 80% of the current cohort do. Moreover, the academy is welcoming a growing number of women, with many female role models and frontline business leaders proactively enrolling for upskilling, resulting in a substantial surge in female learners.
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