Peking University Education Forum 323rd Seminar | Signal Matching and Capital Conversion: Enhancing University Graduates' Competitiveness in the Job Market Within a Collaborative Innovation Ecosystem

Speaker: Professor Cai Yuzhuo (The Education University of Hong Kong)
Time: September 16, 2025 (Tuesday), 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Venue: Classroom 209, Faculty of Education
Host: Professor Yue Changjun (Professor, Faculty of Education, Peking University)

Abstract:
The deeper challenges of university student employment are more hidden: information asymmetry between graduates and employers, high screening costs for employers, and fragmented hiring standards. Professor Cai Yuzhuo will adopt a "collaborative innovation" research perspective to propose two key concepts for students transitioning from school to work—"signal matching" and "capital conversion." The insights are as follows: For graduates, rather than competing on skill lists, it is more effective to translate their "abilities and experiences" gained during university into evidence that employers can understand, trust, and are willing to use. For participants in the employment ecosystem, such as universities, enterprises, and public sectors, it is essential to collaboratively build an efficient, cooperative, and mutually beneficial system. However, creating an effective collaborative innovation ecosystem requires talent with interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration capabilities. To this end, Professor Cai has participated in the development of a Chinese-taught interdisciplinary master's program at The Education University of Hong Kong—"Master of Arts in Comparative Education and Collaborative Innovation"—aimed at cultivating future leaders who can leverage education to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional sustainable development.

Speaker Biography:
Professor Cai Yuzhuo is currently a Professor in the Department of Education Policy and Leadership at The Education University of Hong Kong and Co-Director of the Global Research Institute for Finnish Education (GRIFE). Before joining The Education University of Hong Kong, he worked for over two decades at the Higher Education Research Center of the University of Tampere, Finland. As the Principal Investigator of the European Horizon Europe project "Navigating the 'New Normal': Innovative Approaches to Enhancing Education and Employment Transitions for European Youth in the Post-Pandemic Era," he led a research team from nine EU countries to successfully secure funding of 2.9 million euros.

This seminar is supported by the Huang Teng Education Fund, for which we express our gratitude.

Source: Official WeChat account of the Faculty of Education, Peking University

Photos during the seminar