China has launched its first nationwide pilot program integrating professional education with standardization training, marking a significant step toward developing a workforce equipped with both specialized knowledge and standardization skills. Standardization refers to the framing and application of uniform industry rules.

The State Administration for Market Regulation and the Ministry of Education announced a list of pilot initiatives on Tuesday. A total of 281 projects have been selected across 253 higher education institutions in 30 provincial regions.

The program covers key industries and livelihood sectors, including artificial intelligence, intelligent manufacturing, the low-altitude economy, food quality and safety, and the modern service sector.

More than 80 percent of the projects involve enterprises, research institutions and other standardization-related entities as partners, with 373 organizations participating.

Authorities said the program is expected to train nearly 40,000 professionals with strong disciplinary backgrounds and proficiency in standardization knowledge and skills.

The program operates through three models. The public education model requires institutions to offer at least three public electives on standardization, totaling no fewer than three credits, to at least 400 students within two years. It aims to build a foundation in standardization theory and methods.

The professional education model requires institutions to offer at least four specialized courses related to standardization, or one or more "mini-major" programs with at least six courses totaling no fewer than 10 credits. This model focuses on applying standardization in real-world industry settings and training students to use standardization methodologies to solve professional problems.

The multi-degree model involves establishing second bachelor's degree programs in standardization-related fields, enrolling at least 20 students within a period of no more than four years. It aims to cultivate high-level talent with both strong disciplinary foundations and advanced standardization expertise.

Renmin University of China and Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications are among the institutions selected for the pilot.

Jia Xiaoshuang, an associate professor at the School of Information Resource Management at Renmin University of China, said the country faces a significant shortage of standardization talent.

"Many technical experts in fields like high-speed rail and AI have advanced skills, but they don't know how to translate technical language into standard language," she said. "They are unfamiliar with the rules of standardization, which is an independent discipline."

Jia said demand for professionals capable of drafting national, industry and group standards has surged as China seeks to enhance its global influence, adding that the pilot program is only the beginning.

"A popular saying in business is that second-rate companies make products, while first-rate companies make standards," she said. "If we cannot have a say in standards, our products and technologies will struggle to gain worldwide acceptance."

Gu Xinyu, an associate professor at the School of Artificial Intelligence at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, said standardization is particularly urgent in AI.

"AI technology is developing rapidly and penetrating deeply into vertical industries, increasingly involving public safety, data compliance and cross-system interoperability," she said. "Without unified standards, we face technical incompatibility, data silos and safety risks."

Using transportation as an example, Gu said AI's full potential depends on common data formats, communication protocols and interface specifications.

"If different manufacturers' AI models, sensors and control systems cannot interconnect, data silos and system fragmentation will severely limit overall coordination," she said. "Standardization is the bridge that takes AI from the lab to large-scale industrial applications. It ensures technology is controllable, trustworthy and interoperable."

In accordance with the pilot program, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications plans to embed "standardization thinking" into its AI curriculum.

Core courses will include dedicated modules on intelligent communication standards, AI ethics standards, data quality standards, model development and evaluation standards, and system security standards.

"We want to train students not only as technology innovators but also as participants and even formulators of industry rules — professionals who integrate standardization methods with their technical expertise," Gu said.

zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn