On a crisp September morning, with autumn settling over Chengdu, the registration area at the School of Aerospace Industry of Chengdu Vocational and Technical College of Industry buzzed with activity. Families crowded around a wall listing names of new students; some snapped photos, others searched for their own names, and a few parents bombarded Han Yong, the deputy dean, with urgent questions.

“Teacher, can vocational students really build satellites? Won’t we just end up tightening screws?” Han Yong didn’t answer immediately. He knew that look well, a mix of skepticism, hope, and quiet nervousness.

Breaking Degree Stereotypes

On registration day, the most common questions weren't about curriculum difficulty or campus life, but career prospects: “Can vocational students really enter the aerospace industry?” This query stems from a deep-rooted stereotype. In general thinking, core aerospace roles like satellite assembly and precision inspection are mostly restricted to candidates with bachelor's degrees or higher, leaving vocational students on the outside.

Addressing parents' concerns directly, Han Yong showcased tangible results from the school's training programs. “We’ve established an exclusive 21-student cohort with Guoxing Aerospace, where graduates can take up quality positions in satellite assembly, quality inspection, and 3D printing, roles previously limited to undergraduates. We're also working with leading companies like Chengdu Taige'er, Huantian Intelligence, and Zhongke Aerospace to form new cohorts. Starting salaries for these roles range from 6,000 to 8,000 RMB.”

Han Yong spoke candidly about what it takes to succeed: “We can’t guarantee everyone will excel. Aerospace demands real hands-on skill. We provide the platform and resources, but if students slack off after enrolling, no amount of support can make up for it.”

Scoring 40 Points Above the Bachelor's Line

Up on the third floor of the training facility, Wei Mengru, a 2025 student majoring in Satellite Communication and Navigation, was demonstrating a remote sensing data processing system on her computer. She entered the program with scores more than 40 points above the undergraduate admission line.

Many questioned her choice: why skip a bachelor’s degree? Wei Mengru said she came specifically to target companies like Guoxing Aerospace. But at first, she was uncertain. “I didn’t know what I’d learn or if I’d ever touch core skills. It felt like real aerospace operations were miles away.” A year later, those doubts vanished. “Remote sensing courses give us access to large-scale professional datasets, and IoT classes let us connect microcontrollers to computers ourselves. Every lesson is applied technology, not just theory.”

Her classmate, Zhou Linfeng, has been fascinated by satellite and rocket models since childhood. Before enrolling, he viewed satellite development as inaccessible high-tech. After a year of tiered hands-on training, his view changed: “Actually learning it, you realize satellite manufacturing relies on solid, basic operations. You build it up step by step, and there’s so much to master.”

Hands-On Training for Real-World Skills

According to Han Yong, the school currently offers five majors: Precision Manufacturing of Aerospace Equipment, Satellite Communication and Navigation, Drone Application Technology, Intelligent Control (Aerospace Electronics), and Mechanical Manufacturing and Automation (Smart Aerospace Manufacturing). The school follows a tiered training model. Freshmen all take foundational courses like Introduction to Aerospace, Mechanical Drawing, and Metalworking; sophomores then dive into specialized subjects like satellite component assembly, equipment debugging, and remote sensing data processing, gradually building independent skills aligned with real industry needs.

Han Yong then led reporters through the nearly-completed satellite manufacturing base. Inside the Precision Integration Assembly Lab, he pointed to an actual satellite used for teaching. “You see the wings, called solar arrays, which supply power. Our students must learn to build these basic components, so when I say they can 'hand-craft a satellite', it’s not a joke—it’s the real goal.”

Meeting the Growing Demand for Skilled Talent

As commercial aerospace accelerates, competition for high-end R&D roles is fierce, but there’s a significant shortage of front-line skilled workers in satellite manufacturing, assembly, inspection, and wiring. Han Yong noted, “With low-orbit satellite internet constellations expanding rapidly, the demand for skilled workers will keep growing. Since few vocational colleges currently offer satellite manufacturing programs, our graduates have a clear competitive edge.”

New 2026 student Xu Yuxiang chose aerospace based on this industry outlook. “When I picked a major, I researched and learned the aerospace industry has a big talent gap, stable jobs, and great prospects. So I went for it without hesitation.”

From initial uncertainty to hands-on assembly of satellite components, these post-2000s students are getting closer to the stars through vocational training. They are no longer spectators in aerospace; the core parts they assemble and calibrate today may well end up aboard commercial satellites launched in the future.

Wei Mengru stood in the training hallway, facing a wall emblazoned with a motto: ‘Especially hardworking, especially tenacious, especially innovative, especially dedicated.’ “There’s no such thing as an unreachable space dream, only persistent, down-to-earth effort. I hope that through my hard work, I’ll one day achieve my dream,” she said.