Research on the Effectiveness of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education in Vocational Undergraduate Colleges under the Guidance of High Quality Employment

Abstract

This paper systematically investigates effective strategies to enhance innovation and entrepreneurship education in vocational undergraduate institutions, with a focus on aligning educational practices with high-quality employment objectives. Based on empirical research conducted across 25 vocational undergraduate institutions nationwide, the study identifies several key challenges impeding the effectiveness of innovation education, including a persistent curriculum-employment mismatch, inadequate practical teaching resources, limited exposure to real-world projects, and underdeveloped mechanisms for sustained industry-academia collaboration. Drawing on competency-based education theory and human capital theory, the research proposes a comprehensive framework of optimization strategies encompassing four interrelated dimensions: curriculum restructuring to integrate entrepreneurial competencies and emerging industry requirements, enhancement of practical training platforms to provide hands-on experience and simulation opportunities, deepening of industry-academia partnerships to foster experiential learning and mentorship, and refinement of evaluation systems to measure both knowledge acquisition and applied innovation capability. These strategies collectively establish a closed-loop system that links theoretical instruction, practical training, and employment conversion, ensuring that students acquire both the cognitive and practical skills necessary for entrepreneurial success. Empirical results demonstrate that the proposed framework significantly enhances students' career competitiveness, improves employment outcomes, and strengthens their capacity for innovation-driven problem solving. Furthermore, integrating innovation and entrepreneurship education with high-quality employment objectives contributes to the broader goals of vocational undergraduate education, supporting socioeconomic development by cultivating a workforce that is both technically proficient and adaptable to evolving industry demands. The study offers actionable insights for educators, policymakers, and institutional administrators seeking to reform and optimize vocational education curricula in line with contemporary labor market needs.