The Shanghai Municipal Labor and Social Security Bureau and the Education Commission jointly issued a regulation asking that all Shanghai college graduates should have a diploma as well as a profession qualification certificate.

An official of the city government said that the regulation aims to persuade college students to learn technologies and knowledge related to their future professions in order to meet their work requirements, as well as help them improve their overall quality.

He also noted this regulation also asks colleges to train their students in accordance with the country's economic construction and social demand.

College students who have already obtained profession qualification certificates can apply for technician qualification appraisal after two years of work.

Profession certificate appraisal institutes of colleges including Tongji University and Shanghai University are in operation.