Qingdao is advancing a new model of higher education that aligns with city development, as highlighted in a recent report. The city’s approach emphasizes building a modern education system where university innovation and urban progress support each other, a vision described as a "two-way empowerment."
Students at Qingdao Technical College, part of the artificial intelligence professional group, are seen controlling a quadruped robot to navigate obstacles. This practical training reflects the city's strategy of integrating education with local industry needs.
In the West Coast New Area, Qingdao has established a cluster of universities, including the West Coast campus of Ocean University of China and the Guzhenkou campus of China University of Petroleum (East China), to align with the area's core industrial chains. This nearby placement of educational institutions aims to directly serve the local economy, particularly in sectors like integrated circuits and smart manufacturing.
A key initiative involves the "Triple Integration" mechanism, which combines industry and education, talent and industry, and technology and industry. For example, Qingdao University of Technology has partnered with FAW Jiefang Qingdao Automotive Company, a leading enterprise in the new energy vehicle industry, to create a joint training program for graduate students. This program allows students to work on core research projects under the guidance of both academic and industry mentors, effectively bridging the gap between university research and market needs.
The city has also established a "Contribution Evaluation System" for universities, encouraging them to focus on local industry needs. In 2025, Qingdao institutions added 80 new majors tailored to the city's "10+1" innovative industrial system, covering areas like artificial intelligence and integrated circuits. This system has been supported by 165 million yuan in funding, fostering the development of 50 demonstration disciplines and cultivating over 37,000 talent individuals.
To further enhance collaboration, Qingdao has launched 10 industry-university-research alliances, starting with the Industrial Internet Alliance. This network, based at Shandong University of Science and Technology, connects universities with leading companies to provide customized solutions for local enterprises. The alliances have helped address talent shortages, such as those faced by Haier's COSMOPlat platform, by organizing specialized recruitment events and adjusting curricula to meet industry demands.
The city has also created a Higher Education City-Integration Service Center, which trains technology transfer professionals and facilitates cooperation between scientists, entrepreneurs, and financiers. This center has already certified over 800 technology transfer specialists and facilitated 68 cooperation agreements, leading to the successful incubation of 7 university-based tech companies. A notable example is Professor Sun Lishui from Qingdao University of Science and Technology, who, with new policies allowing for flexible employment, founded Qingdao Shengcai Materials Company, which has become a national "Specialized and New" enterprise with an annual output value of nearly 200 million yuan.
This comprehensive strategy demonstrates how Qingdao is transforming its education system to directly support its industrial growth, creating a dynamic cycle of innovation and economic development.