A national industry–education alliance for urban renewal was launched in Shanghai on June 12, bringing together universities, vocational institutions and enterprises to strengthen talent development, technological innovation and industry collaboration in support of China’s urban renewal efforts.

Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng attended the launch event and outlined priorities for closer integration of education, industry and innovation. He said urban renewal is becoming an important driver of high-quality development and is creating growing demand for skilled professionals. Closer collaboration between education providers and industry, he noted, can help prepare talent for emerging sectors while supporting the modernization of cities and public services.

Huai called on the alliance to respond closely to industry needs and deepen cooperation among educational institutions, enterprises and research organizations. He stressed the importance of better aligning talent development, technological innovation and services to society and industry, with greater emphasis on practical skills, interdisciplinary learning and innovation.

The minister also encouraged enterprises to open major projects and real-world application scenarios to education partners, allowing students and teachers to engage with industry standards, technologies and operational challenges. Universities were urged to accelerate the transformation of architecture, civil engineering and related disciplines, while vocational institutions were encouraged to align their curricula more closely with workforce needs.

During the launch event, representatives from China State Construction Engineering Corporation, Tongji University and Shanghai Urban Construction Vocational College shared their plans for advancing industry–education collaboration.

The event also saw the release of reference lists covering talent needs, technology needs and major tasks in the urban renewal sector, as well as competency profiles for 31 key occupations. In addition, 32 universities and enterprises signed cooperation agreements and launched ten joint projects in a number of areas, including green energy, urban governance, intelligent construction, ecological restoration and historic district revitalization.