As the 48th WorldSkills Competition draws closer, Chinese competitors are entering a critical stage of their preparations.

Shanghai Information Technology College hosts China's national training bases for Web Technologies and Chemical Laboratory Technology, two of the skill categories of the WorldSkills Competition.

The college not only provides training facilities but has also developed a comprehensive preparation program covering technical standards research, psychological support, physical training, and international technical exchanges.

At the Web Technologies training base, Gao Shuheng, who is set to represent China, is taking part in a pre-competition simulation. Gao, 19, studied software and information services at SITC and is quick-thinking and adept at handling unexpected situations during competitions. However, his relatively young age also means he has had less time to build up technical experience.

Feng Jiale, China's coach for Web Technologies, said that training at this stage focuses mainly on helping Gao become familiar with competition procedures, so the team has arranged a series of mock competitions for him.

Ge Rui, principal of SITC, said many students have not only improved their abilities through skills competitions, but have also achieved their goals of further education and employment.

At the Chemical Laboratory Technology training base, Li Wen, a member of China's national training squad for the 48th WorldSkills Competition, is a former SITC student who studied analysis and inspection technology.

Driven by her passion for chemistry, Li chose to pursue a skills-based path after learning that skills competitions could help her gain admission to a higher vocational college.

"I knew academic subjects were not my strength, so I wanted to pursue a different path through skills competitions," Li said.

After intensive training, she won the gold medal in the Shanghai qualifying competition for the 2nd National Skills Competition and was admitted to Shanghai Urban Construction Vocational College through its priority admissions channel.

Although Li has not yet graduated from Shanghai Urban Construction Vocational College, she has already received an offer for a testing position at a leading semiconductor company.

The practical skills she honed through WorldSkills training, including operating precision instruments and analyzing small-volume samples, have become important advantages in her job search.

"Our teachers at SITC are all very professional. Many of them have coached gold medalists in multiple skills competitions. As long as you are willing to learn and work hard, you can achieve results," Li said.