Path Dependence Of University-enterprise Cooperation System Reform In China And The Way Choice

School-enterprise cooperation has been wildly accepted byexperts from higher vocational education, who consistently regardinstitutional reform as the key to promote cooperation. However,reformation has so many difficulties. It is worth to remember that pathdependence should be respected during the process. Pathdependence similar to “inertia” in terms of physics implies that onceinstitution got on one path, it would depend on this path. It also meansthat past institution continue to shape the present through changes.Through reviewing the process of institutional development ofschool-enterprise cooperation of vocational education in China since1949, this paper indicates expressions of path dependence during thisprocess. Firstly, the institutional reform of school-enterprise cooperationis for the purpose of construction of an interest mechanism betweenpolytechnics or higher vocational colleges and enterprises. It is a carefulconsideration process for setting up this goal involved all kinds ofpossibilities from both schools and enterprises. Secondly, this institutionalreform is a part of the self-improvement of socialism system. This is theinherent quality which makes path-dependence reasonable. However,path-dependence limited the option of institutional reform, withaffecting the process all along because of the ‘inertia effect’ of theprevious system. The diversity related benefit subjects from the previoussystem are impacting the process as well.On the basis of clarifying expressions of path dependence, thestudy systematically analyzes four characteristics of path dependence,and reveals four problems of “Lock-In” which refers innovation or reformis stuck in vicious circle. No matter how good or bad it is, path dependence deserves to be valued objectively, and then we musthandle it properly.