Strategies for the Sustainable Development of Industry-Education Integration in Higher Vocational Colleges in Guangdong Province

In order to find strategies for the sustainable development of industry-education integration in higher vocational colleges in Guangdong Province, this paper takes 384 students and 361 teachers from 5 higher vocational colleges in Guangdong Province, seven senior education managers from 5 higher vocational colleges, and three senior business managers from 3 enterprises as the research subjects. This study designed a questionnaire for students and teachers to analyze the factors affecting the development status of industry-education integration at four levels- the government, higher vocational college, enterprise, and student levels. The results show that although students and teachers of higher vocational colleges in Guangdong Province believe that the overall development status of industry-education integration is at a high level in all four aspects, there are still deficiencies in government policy support, higher vocational colleges in teacher talent construction, enterprises in capital investment, and students in practical ability. In order to bridge these gaps, this study used SWOT-PEST analysis and TOWS analysis and proposed a set of targeted strategy drafts, which cover four aspects and a total of 37 measures. Finally, 25 senior education managers conducted focus group discussions on the draft strategies. Eventually, they formed a strategy covering four aspects and a total of 19 measures, including five measures at the government level, five for higher vocational colleges, five for enterprises, and four measures for students. In order to verify the feasibility and adaptability of the strategy, 25 experts from 5 higher vocational colleges were invited to evaluate the strategy. The strategy evaluation experts believed that the overall feasibility and adaptability of the sustainable development strategy of industry-education integration in higher vocational colleges in Guangdong Province were at the highest level (x̄=4.51) and (x̄=4.68), respectively. These strategies provide feasible methods for the sustainable development of industry-education integration in higher vocational colleges in Guangdong Province. These can help higher vocational colleges improve the quality of talent training, enhance students' employment competitiveness and adaptability, and promote industrial development and social progress.