Job fears in changing world make AI a hot subject at China’s vocational schools

Tsinghua University study finds that nearly half of China’s vocational schools have rolled out introductory AI courses

Five years after graduating from a vocational school in the southern Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen, Chen Hao found himself working as a salesman for a local electronics factory.

His daily routine involved exhausting trips between corporate clients, and he had not seen a pay rise for years. The 26-year-old decided he wanted a change.

He quit his job recently and has been checking out short-term AI courses at local technical colleges. He has visited four but remains undecided, adding that their curricula were not the main attraction.

“Learning AI skills itself is not the point, because you can learn them online as well,” Chen said. “The point is that these schools can connect you with industry insiders – who often serve as the instructors – and ultimately lead to a job.”

The swift expansion of AI in China, triggering job-loss fears and boosting demand for those with AI skills, is driving people like Chen to seek out specialised vocational training.