Shanghai is to build around 10 new vocational schools to offer five-year vocational programs in the following three years, according to a three-year action plan released by the government on Tuesday. It will also set up 80 programs for consecutive secondary vocational and undergraduate education, 250 for consecutive secondary and higher vocational education, and 20 for consecutive higher vocational and undergraduate education. By doing so, it aims to build up a comprehensive system to cultivate skilled talent at different levels, ranging from secondary vocational education to applied undergraduate programs and to professional masters programs. It also plans to develop two to four world-class vocational schools in three years. The action plan says the city government will support districts to set up vocational schools closely connected with industries in their jurisdictions. The government will also explore cooperation with enterprises in running vocational schools and support social forces to join the effort. It says cooperation between industry and education should resonate with the development of Shanghai, connect with the city’s industrial development strategies, focusing on strategic industries such as integrated circuits, biomedicine, artificial intelligence, aerospace, marine equipment, automobile manufacturing, as well as modern service sectors related to people’s livelihood, such as housekeeping, senior care, preschool education and hotel management. The action plan also says the city will reform its teaching staff, textbooks and teaching approaches. It aims to have 60 percent of vocational teachers able to both teach theory and practice. It will build 50 studios for outstanding vocational educators and 50 for masters of skills, as well as 20 national vocational education innovation teams. It will also develop online classes of 500 vocational courses. While promoting integration and cooperation between schools and enterprises, the city will establish 100 modern apprentice programs and a batch of practice training centers for students and workers. Ten national demonstration groups for vocational education will also be developed.