Henan Polytechnic Institute (HPI) was established in 1973, originally named the 531 Mechanical Industry School. In 1978, it was renamed Zhongyuan Mechanical Industry School. In 2001, it was upgraded to a higher vocational school and renamed Henan Polytechnic Institute. Over the years, it has been managed by various entities, including the Fifth Ministry of Machinery Industry, the Ministry of Ordnance Industry, the Machinery Industry Committee, the Ministry of Machinery and Electronics Industry, the China North Industries Group Corporation Limited, and the People’s Government of Henan Province (under the management of the Henan Provincial Defense Science and Technology Industry Office). Currently, it is under the management of the Education Working Committee of the Henan Provincial Party Committee and the Education Department of Henan.

HPI is a national key vocational college, a national high-quality higher vocational college, and a construction unit of the “Chinese Characteristic High-Level Vocational Schools and Majors Construction Plan.” It is also an “Excellent” institution in the Ministry of Education’s evaluation of talent training in higher vocational colleges, one of the first batch of modern apprenticeship pilot colleges by the Ministry of Education, and one of the first batch of pilot colleges for teaching quality diagnosis and improvement in China. HPI has received numerous honors, including the National Advanced Employment Unit, the National Outstanding Contribution Award for Skilled Talent Cultivation, the National Advanced Unit of Vocational and Technical Education, the 7th Huang Yanpei Vocational Education Award for Excellent Schools, and recognition as one of the “Top 50 Internship Management, “Top 50 Teaching Resources,” and “Top 50 Industry-Education Integration”. Additionally, HPI was listed in the annual reports on the quality of vocational education in China for 2021, 2022, and 2023.

HPI is located in Nanyang, a national historical and cultural city, which covers a total area of over 2,000 mu (approximately 333 acres) and has a total building area of 730,000 square meters. The total value of its fixed assets is 1.22 billion yuan, and its teaching and research instruments and equipment is 430 million yuan. The library houses over 3 million books. More than 18,000 full-time students are enrolled. The Institute has 3 training bases supported by central government funds, 2 productive training bases recognized by the Ministry of Education, 1 collaborative innovation center, 1 exemplary virtual simulation training base for vocational education, 2 provincial-level productive training bases, 3 exemplary training bases, 2 exemplary comprehensive training bases, 2 exemplary virtual simulation training bases, and 9 provincial-level engineering research centers and engineering technology research centers.

It has 13 teaching units and offers 62 majors. It has 2 “Enhancing Professional Service Capability for Industry Development” projects supported by the central government funds, 4 undergraduate programs jointly offered with Henan University of Science and Technology, 5 key programs designated for development in national backbone vocational colleges, 5 modern apprenticeship pilot majors designated by the Ministry of Education, 6 key disciplines designated under the Innovation and Development Action Plan, 7 specialty programs recognized by Henan Province, and 9 “Professional Comprehensive Reform Pilot” Majors in Henan Province.

The Institute currently has over 1,000 faculty and staff members, including 1 national-level teaching team, 3 national-level vocational education and teaching innovation teams, 1 Huang Danian-style teacher team for national universities, 2 national-level ideological and political education teaching teams, 3 national model Party branches for university Party building, and 157 experts who enjoy special government allowances from the State Council, national technical experts, provincial high-level talents, and provincial vocational education experts. HPI is deeply committed to advancing educational and teaching reforms, earning 4 second-class national awards for teaching achievements and 43 provincial higher education teaching achievement awards. It adheres to cultivating high-quality technical and skilled talents by integrating morality with skills and combining theoretical knowledge with practical application. Additionally, it implements reforms in talent development models such as collaboration with enterprises, skill competitions and integration of workplace training with academic courses. In the past three years, students have won over 380 awards in various national skill competitions, and the employment rate of graduates has consistently remained above 98%. Under the leadership of HPI, the Henan Defense Science and Technology Industry Vocational Education Group (integration of industry and education), which is the first batch of national exemplary vocational education group, the Henan Province Mechatronics Equipment and Automation Backbone Vocational Education Group and the Nanyang Vocational Education Alliance have been founded. HPI has also collaborated with enterprises to establish 12 industry academies, including the BYD Industry College. It has established cooperation mechanisms with higher education institutions to engage in collaborative education programs, skill training and jointly develop vocational standards and curriculum standards. It has established the overseas branch “Zhangheng College” in South Africa, admitting international students from countries such as Indonesia and South Africa, promoting the development of the distinctive vocational education brand “Study in Henan”.

In the future, HPI will adhere to basing itself in Henan, serving the whole country, relying on military industry, and serving society. It will actively contribute to national strategies such as integrating military-civilian development, building a manufacturing powerhouse, and revitalizing rural areas, as well as Henan’s “Ten Major Strategies”. It will actively participate in the construction of Nanyang as a provincial sub-center city, cultivate high-quality technical and skilled talents integrating morality with skills, and strive to run vocational education that meets the satisfaction of the people in the new era.