On September 18, the Shandong Provincial Government's official website released five separate approvals authorizing the creation of five new Sino-foreign cooperative education institutions across the province.

These approvals include the establishment of the Inha Institute of Shandong Polytechnic University, the Sino-Australia Smart Service Industry College of Qingdao Vocational and Technical College of Hotel Management, the Sino-Italian International Fashion Institute of Shandong Vocational Institute of Fashion Technology, the St. Petersburg Institute of Artificial Intelligence at Shandong College of Electronic Technology, and the St. Petersburg Transport School of Shandong Transport Vocational College.

Inha Institute of Shandong Polytechnic University

The provincial government has given its in-principle consent to establish the Inha Institute of Shandong Polytechnic University, which will operate as a non-legal-person Sino-foreign cooperative institution under the affiliation of Shandong Polytechnic University. The Chinese partner is Shandong Polytechnic University, while the foreign partner is Inha University from South Korea. The institute will be located at 19777 Fuyanshan Road, Weicheng District, Weifang City, Shandong Province.

The institute will offer three-year junior college degree programs in Mechatronics Technology (460301H), Electrical Automation Technology (460306H), and Big Data Technology (510205H), with a total enrollment capacity of 900 students and an annual intake of 300 students, all included in the national higher education admissions plan. Graduates will receive a junior college diploma from Shandong Polytechnic University alongside a factual certificate issued by Inha University. The admissions period runs from 2027 to 2029 with one intake per year; any extension must be applied for before December 31, 2029.

Sino-Australia Smart Service Industry College of Qingdao Vocational and Technical College of Hotel Management

The second approval sanctions the Sino-Australia Smart Service Industry College under Qingdao Vocational and Technical College of Hotel Management. The Chinese institution partners with Box Hill Institute of Technical and Further Education from Australia. Located at 599 Jiushui East Road, Licang District, Qingdao, the college will deliver four three-year programs: Information Security Technology Application (510207H), Smart Health Elderly Care Services and Management (590302H), Western Culinary Arts (540204H), and Modern Property Management (440703H). Total capacity is set at 840 students with 280 admitted annually, and graduates will receive a junior college diploma from the Chinese institution along with vocational certificates or diplomas from Box Hill Institute. Enrollment will occur from 2027 to 2030, with a deadline of December 31, 2030 for any extension request.

Sino-Italian International Fashion Institute of Shandong Vocational Institute of Fashion Technology

The third approval establishes the Sino-Italian International Fashion Institute under Shandong Vocational Institute of Fashion Technology, in collaboration with the Libera Accademia di Belle Arti di Brescia from Italy. The institute will be situated at 299 Tianzhufeng Road, Taishan District, Tai'an City, and will offer three junior college programs: Fashion Display and Exhibition Design (550127H), Fashion Design and Craft (480402H), and Fashion and Apparel Design (550105H). The total enrollment will be 780 students, with yearly admissions of 260 (70 for Fashion Display and Exhibition Design, 100 for Fashion Design and Craft, and 90 for Fashion and Apparel Design). Students will earn a junior college diploma from Shandong Vocational Institute of Fashion Technology and a credit-bearing factual certificate from the Italian academy. Admissions are scheduled from 2027 to 2030, with extensions due by December 31, 2030.

St. Petersburg Institute of Artificial Intelligence at Shandong College of Electronic Technology

The fourth approval permits the St. Petersburg Institute of Artificial Intelligence at Shandong College of Electronic Technology. The Chinese partner is Shandong College of Electronic Technology, and the foreign partner is Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University "LETI" from Russia. The campus will be at 888 Wenhua Road, Shuangshan Subdistrict, Zhangqiu District, Jinan City. Three specialized programs will be offered: Electronic Information Engineering Technology (510101H), Artificial Intelligence Technology Application (510209H), and Information Security Technology Application (510207H), all lasting three years. With a total of 720 students and 240 per annual intake, graduates will receive a junior college diploma from the Chinese institution and a factual certificate from LETI. The enrollment window spans 2027 to 2029, with extension applications required by December 31, 2029.

St. Petersburg Transport School of Shandong Transport Vocational College

The fifth approval establishes the St. Petersburg Transport School under Shandong Transport Vocational College, partnering with St. Petersburg State Transport University from Russia. The school will be located at 7369 Bohai Road, High-tech Zone, Weifang City, and will provide three-year junior college programs in Automobile Inspection and Maintenance Technology (500211H), Urban Rail Vehicle Application Technology (500602H), and Mechatronics Technology (460301H). The total capacity is 720 students, with 240 admitted each year. Graduates will be awarded a junior college diploma from Shandong Transport Vocational College. The admissions period runs from 2027 to 2030, and any extension must be filed before December 31, 2030.

All five institutions must adhere to national and provincial regulations regarding tuition fees, and new specialty programs will require separate approvals. The Shandong Provincial Department of Education has been instructed to strengthen oversight and guide each institution in refining its program characteristics, innovating talent cultivation models, and enhancing educational quality to support the reform and development of higher vocational education. All approvals were officially signed on August 28, 2026.