Current Status and Prospects of Digital Development Policies in China’s Vocational Education: A PMC Index Analysis Based on Policies From Five Provinces

As digital transformation increasingly drives reforms in vocational education, this study aims to assess the current status and effectiveness of digitalization policies across five provinces in China. By applying the Policy Modeling Consistency (PMC) index model, the study quantitatively analyzes 21 policy documents from 2012 to 2024 based on nine indicators. The findings indicate that while provinces demonstrate consistency and comprehensiveness in their policy formulation aligned with national strategies for the digitalization of vocational education, they also share common weaknesses in balancing policy content, diversifying policy tools, and ensuring functional integrity. Furthermore, significant disparities exist between provinces regarding policy timeliness and incentive measures. This study provides targeted recommendations to optimize policy effectiveness and facilitate equitable digital transformation across regions. Its key contributions include: (1) analyzing vocational education digital transformation policies across five provinces with diverse economic, geographical, and educational profiles; (2) employing the quantitative approach and PMC index model for accurate and multi-dimensional policy valuation; and (3) offering reference cases and theoretical support for global experience exchange and cooperation in vocational education digital transformation. The results provide valuable insights for understanding digitalization policies in Chinese vocational education, guiding policymakers in the digital transformation process, and serving as references for practitioners and researchers.