Aiping QIN，Xihua LI

Shanxi Normal University，Linfen 041004，China

1 Introduction

Geographical regional economy is closely related to construction of county-level vocational education centers.Population density and economic development level determine development speed and scale of vocational education centers，and also need powerful personnel and intellectual support.According to the Decision of the State Council on Energetically Developing Vocational Education（national［2005］No.35），Shanxi Province launched＂Project for Vocational Education Development＂（Shanxi vocational education［2006］No.16）in 2006.Three years later，it carried out supervisory acceptance，and the acceptance result basically reflected overall situation of construction of county-level vocational education centers in the whole province.In the period of Eleventh Five-Year Plan，Shanxi Province achieved a lot in construction of county-level vocational education centers.But due to influence of geographical regional economy，the development of vocational education centers is not balanced.This study was based on data obtained in the first batch of supervisory acceptance of 36 county-level vocational education centers.

2 Contribution of vocational education centers to social and economic development

2.1 Development of vocational education centers improves vocational skills of laborsVocational education is a type of human capital investment with long-term great benefit，so it is closely connected with economic development.As American economist Theodore Schultz said，economic benefit obtained from vocational technical education is in a sense higher than that from general education.Former Soviet Union economist Strumiline believed that about30%of increase in national income gives the credit to education.In hisopinion，a worker with elementary education can increase labor productivity by 30%，and a skilled worker can increase labor productivity for 1.6 times after training one year.In 2009，counties（districts）of 36 vocational education centers enrolled 80 591 new students for general senior secondary schools，enrolled 80 032 new students for secondary vocational schools，and basically realized 1∶1 enrollment goal for secondary vocational schools and general senior secondary schools.In secondary vocational education，vocational education centers enrolled 35 566 new students， accounting for 44.44%of secondary vocational students，showing that vocational education centers are becoming core force of secondary vocational education.The rise of vocational education centers in secondary vocational education is also reflected in percentage of current year's intakes to in-school students.In 2009，36 vocational education centers have 92 029 in-school students，accounting for 38.65%of total in-school students（218 841），having a growth rate of 33.3%in three years，indicating that school scale of vocational education centers steadily grows，vocational skill quality is improving，and economic benefit will be gradually manifested.

2.2 Construction of vocational education centers promotes rapid development of rural economyIn recent years，the trend of rural labors migration to urban areas is growing.According to statistics，more than 10million rural laborsmigrate to cities annually［1］.To realize orderly migration of rural labors，rural vocational education must provide powerful education and training support，to alleviate relative shortage of urban education and training.County-level vocational education centers can provide more opportunities for rural labor migration and increase vocational stability of rural labor after migration.Vocational education centers in counties of Shanxi Province，combining demands of local economic development，longitudinally extend vocational education and training points to townships（communities）in various degrees，and set up township comprehensive education centers.Horizontally，they hold characteristic sci-tech education，safe production and reemployment skill training in cooperation with bureau of labor，bureau of agriculture，and bureau of safe production supervision and administration and enterprises.In 2009，36 vocational education center she ld 2 383 short-term trainings，trained 195 419 man-times，which is1.86 times the annual3 000man-time of various short-term trainings in Shanxi Province.So，the training achievement is brilliant.Various advanced practical technical trainings can serve agricultural industrialization and modernization better.Besides，according to rural realities and far mers'dem ands，county-level vocational education centers actively introduce and develop ruralmodel sci-tech projects，to promote farmers to get rid of poverty，speed up agricultural modernization，and boost rapid development of rural economy.

2.3 Constant innovation of school running mechanism accelerates upgrade of production technologiesDevelopment of vocational education exerts immeasurable long-term influence on combining production，testing and research，improving local research and development ability，promoting increase in technological level and sci-tech contentof products，and optimizing industrial structure.Some vocational education centers in Shanxi Province implement cooperation between universities，between universities and enterprises in accordance with local economic development and realities of universities.For example，vocational education center of Hequ County set Hequ Folk Songs course to passon Xikou culture.Yang cheng County built professional Yangcheng County Coal Technical School to adapt to consolidation of coal mines.Jiancaoping District vocational education center implemented＂front school and back factory＂management relying on Taiyuan Stainless Steel Ecology Industrial Park，mad arrangement for cooperation with South Korean Calvin University and signed joint school-running contract with South Korean Kyungin Women's College.These make vocational education become direction production base of science and technology and economy，and become comprehensive modern industry integrating science，technology and economy.In addition，these constantly improve quality of technology practical personnel and promote upgrade of production technology and economic development.

2.4 Vocational education center p lays an important role in building harmonious societyGroups receiving vocational education from vocational education centers are mainly social vulnerable groups，such as rural poor families and those having not received good education.If such groups enter into society too early，it will inevitably bring about various social problems.On the contrary，receiving systematic vocational education，they will grasp certain skills and support themselves，which will play significant role in promoting social justice and building harmonious society.

In sum，constant development of social economy creates huge demands for vocational education，while development of vocational education further pulls economic development.Only through promoting benign interaction of vocational education and economy can vocational education make greater contribution to national economy.

3 Geographical regional economy and construction of county-level vocational education centers

3.1 Construction pattern of county-level vocational education centersShanxi Province has11 cities and 119 counties.In 2009，among 10 cities（excluding Shuozhou City）received supervisory acceptance，there were36 vocational education centers，accounting for 30.25%of 119 administrative counties（cities）.22 counties（cities）passed acceptance，and the number of vocational education centers passed acceptance takes up 60%.Comparatively speaking，schools receiving acceptance are those having better conditions and represent higher construction level of Shanxi Province.Schools receiving supervisory acceptance are listed in Table 1，and regional distribution is illustrated in Fig.1（cities underlined in red received supervisory acceptance）.

Table 1 and Fig.1 show that vocational education centers with better construction aremainly distributed in southeast，including Jinzhong，Yangquan，Changzhi，Jincheng and Yuncheng.In these five cities，25 counties（cities）received acceptance，accounting for 52%of total48 counties（cities）.In comparison，in 6 cities like Datong City in northwest，only 11 counties（cities）received acceptance，accounting for 15.5%of the total71 administrative counties（cities）.As a result，it forms the pattern of strong in southeast and weak in northwest for construction of county-level vocational education centers.

Table1 Firstbatchofacceptanceofcounty-levelvocationaleducation centers

3.2 Influence of geography and population environment on development of county-level vocational education centers

Shanxi Province is 680 km long from south to north，and 380 km from east to west，having a total area of 15.63 million hm2.It is located on a plateau made up of higher ground to the east（Taihang Mountains）and the west（Luliang Mountains）and a series of valleys in the center through which the Fen River runs.There are various ground forms，such as mountains，hills，plateau，basin，and tableland［3］.Spatial distribution of population of Shanxi Province takeson decreasing from south to north and increasing from high to low terrain areas.Yuncheng and Linfen in the south and Changzhi and Jincheng in the southeast have the highest population density；Taiyuan，Yangquan，Jinzhong and Luliang in the middle rank take the second place；Datong，Shuozhou，and Xinzhou in the north have the lowest population density，only 60%of the highest figure.Due to influence of natural environment and economic development，population in the basin is dense，while population in hilly and mountain areas is sparse［4］.

Fig.1 Mapoffirstbatchofacceptanceofvocationaleducation centers

Such special geography and population environment lead to weak elementary education in western cities，including Datong，Shuozhou and Xinzhou.It is one of reasons for the construction pattern of county-level vocational education centers in Shanxi Province taking on strong in middle and southern areas and weak in northern areas.

3.3 Influence of regional economy［5］ on development of county-level vocational education centersAccording to difference of national conditions and natural resources，similarity of economic basic characteristics，connection of regions，and radiation range of specialized economic centers，Shanxi Province can be divided into following 5 economic zones.

（1）Northern Shanxi Economic Zone：including Datong City，Shuozhou City and counties and cities excluding Lingqiu，and 7 western counties of Xinzhou City.This zone covers an area of3.5million hm2and has population near5million.Having high terrain and harsh natural climate，this zone is limited in agricultural development to some degree.However，it has rich mineral resources，so it is amajor energy base of China.

（2）Middle Shanxi Economic Zone：including Taiyuan City，Yangquan City，Jinzhong City，and 7 eastern counties of Xinzhou City，and Lingqiu County in the northeastern area，covering an area of4.5million hm2and has population of8.3million.This zone is rich in natural resources，has solid industrial foundation，better agricultural and sideline production conditions，convenient traffic.So，it is the most developed zone of Shanxi Province.Its total industrial output value accounts more than 50%of whole Shanxi Province.Highly developed economy provides better condition for county-level vocational education.Schools of this zone receiving acceptance account for 80.82%.In 2009，the enrollment accounts for66.49%of secondary vocational students，and in-school students take up 36.64%of the whole Shanxi Province.All three schools with students more than 5 000 are in this zone.These fully reflect powerful position of this zone in construction of vocational education.

（3）Southern Shanxi Economic Zone：including Linfen City and Yuncheng City，covering an area of 3.4 million hm2，and having a population of8.3million.This zone has flat terrain，high temperature，moderate rainfall，and high land use ratio，so it is production base of cotton and wheat of Shanxi Province.Mineral resources include coal，copper，and sodium sulfate.Coal，power，light textile and salinization industries have certain foundation.Zhongtiaoshan Non-Ferrous Metals Group Company and Shanxi Company of Aluminum Corporation of China are key cooper production base and aluminum production base respectively.

（4）Southeastern Shanxi Economic Zone：including Changzhi City and Jincheng City，covering an area of 2.4million hm2，and having a population of5million.This zone is a relatively complete economic zone in Shanxi Province.It has complex terrain，many mountain and hilly areas，abundant rainfall，better agricultural production conditions，and higher forest coverage and land use ratio.This zone has rich mineral resources，especially abundant in high grade，complete type，high quality and large reserve of coal.Its anthracite reserve ranks first in China and output accounts for one third of the whole country.

（5）Western Shanxi Economic Zone：referring to Luliang City，covering an area of2.1million hm2and having population of 3.2 million.It has complex terrain and the surface is covered with yellow earth.Water loss and soil erosion are serious，and agricultural productivity is relatively low.This zone is one of national poverty-stricken areas.Natural resource ismainly coal and bauxite.Due to inconvenient traffic，the development of this zone starts late and it is to be further developed.Comparatively speaking，Luliang City needs speeding up development of vocational education.

From the above analysis，we can see that special geography and population environment and regional economic development exert different degree of influence on construction and development of county-level vocational education center.As a result，it forms the existing construction pattern of strong in southeast and weak in northwest.

4 Recommendations for coordinated development of county-level vocational education centers and regional economy

4.1 Scientifically making plan for construction of vocational education centers in northwestern counties（cities）Special geography，population and regional economic environment of Shanxi Province lead to slow economic development and weak elementary education of many counties and cities in northwestern areas.To speed up economic development，these counties and cities should comprehensively improve overall quality of social labors.Secondary vocational education is suitable for people with low education.The age range is wide.Thus，it is recommended to accelerate construction of vocational education centers，and expand number of people receiving short-term trainings，to comprehensively overall quality of local social labors.Thus，construction of vocational education centers in these counties and cities should not be completed only by local government，and should not be treated with the same standard as southeastern cities like Jinzhong City.Instead，it should stand at the height of economic development strategy of the whole Shanxi Province and find solutions relying on local government in combination with local realities.Provincial government should organize experts to carry out survey and study and form proper scheme.It is recommended to adopt suchmethods as key construction and joint construction of several counties，scientifically make plan for construction and developmentof vocational education centers，and maximally increase provincial financial support，to redress the development imbalance.

4.2 Establishing long-term mechanism for construction of vocational education centers Secondary vocational education is the basic education for improving overall quality of social labors.In awareness，all counties（cities）should set up the idea of＂grasping vocational education as economy＂and the idea of＂large vocational education＂.In work arrangement，it should incorporate plan of secondary vocational education into long-term development plan of whole counties（cities），include plan of secondary vocational education into government annual work report，and take secondary vocational education as an indispensible economic work.In operation，it is recommended to change development plan and formulation of plan from simple consolidation of resources，expansion of school size，and low-level overall plan of discipline setting to high level plan，such as revitalizing local sci-tech agriculture，pillar industry and urbanization construction，and serving local economic development，so as to set up long-term mechanism for sustainable development of secondary vocational education.

5 Discussions

Development of regional vocational education is highly related to regional economic development.Regional economic development is the foundation for development of regional vocational education.Coordinated development and mutual promotion of vocational education and regional economy is an optimal path［6］.

In the theoretical analysis on relationship between vocational education and economy，Lin Jinliang［7］，Zhou Xiaohong and Xia Lan［8］and Chen Xianyun［9］elaborated the significance of vocational education to economic development，and put forward strategies for reform of vocational education and coordinated economic development.In empirical studies on regional economy，Dai Hanshen［10］，Dai Yong and Cheng Jianfen［11］，and Xiao Huayin［12］predicted scale，course setting and level of vocational education from total supply and demand and economic structure，and basically predicted development direction of vocational education.Ouyang He［13］，An Xiufang and Ling Yun［14］，and Ruan Ling［15］，the soft science program team of Jiangxi vocational schoolsmade prediction of scale of secondary and professional secondary education taking the relationship between vocational education and population，size of population，ratio of general education to vocational education，and gross entrance rate as parameters.

Focusing on the relationship between regional population structure，economic development and vocational education development，this study analyzed the relationship between regional economic development and construction of county-level vocational education centers with Shanxi Province as the case.It is concluded that special geography，population and regional economic development situation exert different degrees of influence on construction of county-level vocational education centers.These factors are also major ones leading to the development pattern of strong in southeast and weak in northwest of vocational education centers of Shanxi Province.

In the reciprocal causation and mutual promotion relationship between economic development and vocational education development，economic development stays the primary position［17］，while the development of vocational education lags behind.County-level vocational education center，as a new school-running mode［18］，should be taken as a project for developing vocational education in the Eleventh Five-Year Plan period.It is an innovative measure for changing passive development to active development of vocational education.For government，asmajor investor and planner of overall distribution，its investment action and plan decisions will directly influence development scale and scientific distribution of county-level vocational education centers.

To realize regional economic development，population condition is themost important and the next is resource condition and social elements［19］.In the reciprocal causation and mutual promotion relationship between economic development and vocational education development，scientific distribution of county-level vocational education centers should consider economic development conditions and innovation requirements of these zones.In February 2013，four cities（Changsha，Hefei，Nanchang and Wuhan）of middle reach of Yangtze River launched cooperation of regional development strategy，autonomous innovation and transformational development on the basis of Strategic Cooperation Agreement.Such innovation type of breaking administrative division and geographic regions can provide reference for scientifically making plan for development of vocational education centers of Shanxi Province，exploring new modes of construction of county-level vocational education centers，and setting up long-term mechanism for sustainable development of vocational education.

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