Quality and Sustainability of Vocational Education in Western China: Analyzing Key Factors Affecting Organizational Performance

Purpose: This research aims to analyze factors affecting organizational performance in vocational schools in western China. The study examines quality management practice and digital innovation as independent variables, with organizational culture as a mediating variable, organizational performance as the dependent variable, and organizational ownership (public or private) as a control variable. Approach: This study uses a quantitative approach, the research employs a questionnaire survey distributed to Chinese western vocational education institutions, analyzed with SmartPLS4 software through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Research implications: The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030. This goal focuses on reducing educational disparities and enhancing learning quality across all levels. In western China, vocational education is crucial for enhancing employability, addressing skill shortages, and supporting economic transformation, contributing to SDG 4. This study explores the "Quality and Sustainability of Vocational Education in China," an area with limited academic focus. Practical implications: The findings will provide insights into factors influencing organizational performance in vocational education of western China, aiding policymakers, educational leaders, and practitioners in improving vocational education systems. This alignment with industry needs aims to produce highly skilled graduates and help China achieve SDG 4, fostering an inclusive and equitable education system that promotes lifelong learning and prepares individuals for the labor market. Originality and value: Existing research shows positive relationships between these variables, but the role of organizational culture as a mediator and the impact of organizational ownership are novel aspects of this study.