From Singularity to Synergy: Theoretical Evolution and Practical Transformation of Support for Vulnerable Students in Vocational Education from the Perspective of Multi-Stakeholder Governance

Support for vulnerable students in vocational education is critical to safeguarding educational equity and enhancing the quality of technical and vocational talents, serving as an important guarantee for the high-quality development of vocational education and inclusive social progress. Vulnerable vocational students typically face overlapping challenges, including economic disadvantage, academic underachievement, psychological distress, behavioral deviations, and weak employment competitiveness, which hinder their personal growth and become key barriers to narrowing the educational equity gap. With the in-depth advancement of educational governance modernization, relevant research has undergone a significant paradigm shift—from a single-stakeholder, relief-oriented model dominated by educational institutions to a scientific governance model featuring multi-stakeholder collaboration, whole-process empowerment, and digital support. This study narratively reviews the theoretical evolution of research on supporting vulnerable students in vocational education, analyzes the core practical transformations of support mechanisms under the framework of multi-stakeholder governance, summarizes existing research consensus, controversies and limitations, and outlines targeted future research directions. Its findings aim to provide solid theoretical reference and practical guidance for building a high-quality, collaborative support system, protecting vulnerable students’ legitimate rights and interests, and promoting the balanced and healthy development of vocational education.