Zhou Hao, who majored in economics, chose to study PLC electrical automation at Anhui Xinhua Senior Technical School, which is part of CHINA EAST EDU (00667.HK), one year after graduating from university. He stated that post-graduation employment pressure was significant and that he hoped to broaden his employment prospects by mastering a practical skill. Early this year, he learned about the school's employment skill training programs for university graduates on a short video platform. After detailed consultation, he opted for the three-month electrical automation program, valuing its practical applicability for employment and market demand.

At Anhui Xinhua Senior Technical School, university graduates like Zhou Hao who return to study a technical skill are not uncommon. This group includes both recent graduates and individuals with prior work experience, all sharing the common goal of enhancing their employment competitiveness through skill development. Chen Xiaodong, another student, tried various industries after graduating in 2023 but struggled to find a satisfactory position. He admitted that this experience made him realize that employers prioritize practical operational skills over theoretical knowledge alone.

Chen's career shift began with a chance inquiry. While a friend of his father was consulting about the PLC electrical automation program for his own child, Chen learned that the curriculum is directly aligned with job requirements, covering practical content like programming for mainstream PLC brands, industrial network configuration, and debugging of actual production lines. Furthermore, since his father is a professional electrician familiar with the industry, he encouraged Chen to enroll. After two months of systematic training, Chen progressed from understanding basic circuit diagrams to mastering the ability to debug programs for entire automated production lines. The cross-industry transition of student Wang Zhi is also representative. With an undergraduate degree in information management, he was dissatisfied with his post-graduation job. Through systematic training at Anhui Xinhua Senior Technical School, he successfully secured a position as an equipment technician at Gotion High-tech, achieving stable employment.

With the size of the graduate population reaching a new high in 2026, an increasing number of university students recognize that while a degree is the foundation for employment, practical skills are the core competency for long-term career development. In recent years, the Anhui Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security and the Hefei Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security have continuously promoted training initiatives. Under the guidance of the Hefei bureau, Anhui Xinhua Senior Technical School has launched programs suitable for university graduates seeking skill upgrades, such as PLC Electrical Automation, AI Short Video & Live Streaming, AI Comic Creation & Design, Drone Applications, and Intelligent Control Technology (Industrial Robotics direction), aligning with regional industrial layout and corporate hiring needs. Upon completing their courses, the school recommends students for practical training and employment at partner enterprises like BYD, Gotion High-tech, and Midea, creating a direct link between training and employment. Concurrently, the Hefei Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security organizes multiple specialized job fairs for graduates annually, facilitating direct communication between students and employers to precisely bridge the final gap to employment. The school's comprehensive "Training-Certification-Employment" model focuses not merely on skill training but on addressing the career transition needs of graduates. Principal Wang Sheng explained that after training, students can participate in vocational skill level assessments for relevant trades, obtaining nationally recognized vocational skill certificates. The ultimate goal of certification is to help students achieve stable employment.

The transition from theoretical knowledge to practical, hands-on capability demonstrates that skills are becoming the most crucial credential. Anhui Xinhua Senior Technical School consistently focuses on skill development, ensuring every graduate who studies there can master robust technical abilities, smoothly enter the workforce, and become a new force driving high-quality regional economic development. As emerging industries in Hefei—focusing on sectors like new-generation information technology, intelligent connected systems, artificial intelligence, and the low-altitude economy—continue to thrive, the demand for highly skilled talent grows. Returning to study a technical skill is not a step back but a rational choice for graduates actively seeking self-improvement and better alignment with market needs. Empowering the vulnerable and enabling the skilled to shine represents the true meaning of high-quality employment.