Improving student affairs administration in vocational higher education through digital media: A case study of Shenzhen Polytechnic University

Abstract

This case study investigates the digital transformation of student affairs administration in vocational institutions, taking Shenzhen Polytechnic University (SZPU) as a representative example. Grounded in Chickering's student development theory, the research examines the functional orientation of SZPU’s digital student affairs platforms. While these platforms effectively support technical competence and career purpose, the study finds opportunities to enhance digitally mediated guidance for students’ holistic academic, personal, and professional growth. Through a qualitative analysis of institutional documents and a digital audit of SZPU's public platforms—benchmarked against the integrated student services model of Foothill College in California—the study reveals how digital structures currently prioritize administrative and industry-aligned functions over developmental support. In response, the study proposes a localized conceptual model aligning student development principles with the digital ecosystems of vocational higher education. This model adapts Western student developmental theory to the Chinese vocational context by integrating core academic, career, and personal development pillars with dedicated modules for ideological and political education and international exchange, all supported by a centralized digital ecosystem. The findings suggest that intentionally designed digital student affairs platforms, informed by theory and cross-cultural benchmarking, can enhance institutional support, foster student engagement, and advance the quality of holistic education in China's rapidly expanding vocational higher education sector.