A framework agreement established a higher vocational education colleges union among Inner Mongolia, Ningxia and Shaanxi.

According to the agreement, signed at the third joint conference of mayors from the Hohhot-Baotou-Yinchuan-Yulin Economic Region on August 3, 13 cities in the economic region will jointly work on higher vocational education reform and new mechanisms to cultivate vocational professionals. The related parties will also cooperate on teaching, research and sharing resources among the vocational colleges in the region.

Eight vocational colleges in Inner Mongolia were included in the union.
The union is a practice to strengthen the comprehensive reform in the field of education and optimize the region’s allocation of resources and integrated development, according to an inspector from Inner Mongolia Department of Education at the union’s first presidents' forum.

He also commented that the union will improve traditional industries, cultivate new industries and promote advantageous industries for Inner Mongolia, Ningxia and Shaanxi.

By the end of 2014, Inner Mongolia had 50 higher education schools, including 35 higher vocational colleges with 170,000 students and 9000 teachers.