Established in 1993 and incorporated into China's national admissions plan in 2002, Shanghai Zhongqiao Vocational and Technical University (referred as Zhongqiao University or SHZQU) is a non-profit private institution based in Shanghai. In 2019, it was upgraded to a vocational undergraduate university and officially adopted its current name in 2020. In 2022, SHZQU gained authorization to confer bachelor's degrees. It is the only institution in Shanghai selected as a national pilot for undergraduate-level vocational education.

In the 2024 Shanghai classification rankings, SHZQU ranked 7th citywide. According to the latest MyCOS data, it ranks 2nd among all private universities in China and 10th among vocational undergraduate institutions, reflecting its national leadership in applied education.

The university upholds a mission of cultivating outstanding industry-ready professionals, guided by four strategic pillars: International Vision, Faculty Enhancement, Industry-education Integration, and Modern Governance. Supported by Zeta Group—a top 500 Chinese manufacturing enterprise—SHZQU has become a driving force in vocational education.

With over 15,000 enrolled students, SHZQU offers 22 undergraduate and 24 vocational programs across nine specialized schools, covering disciplines such as information engineering, intelligent manufacturing, Food and pharmacy, and Economics and management. SHZQU boasts a strong faculty team that includes recipients of the State Council's Special Government Allowance, National Distinguished Teachers, “New Era Teaching Masters” recognized by the Ministry of Education, and Shanghai Pujiang Talent Award winners. The university has established a high-caliber, dual-qualified teaching workforce that integrates academic excellence with industry experience.

The university has partnered with 245 enterprises to establish 153 joint training bases, and maintains strategic collaborations with industry leaders including China Baowu Steel Group, Tencent, and Huawei. It shares academic resources with top institutions like Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Fudan University. As one of the Ministry of Education's 100 employment monitoring universities, SHZQU has maintained an employment rate above 98% for over a decade, with 100% employment for undergraduates in the past two years.

Students from Zhongqiao consistently earn top honors in national competitions in technical skills and innovation. The university has been named among China's Top 100 in both Industry-Education Integration and Innovation& Entrepreneurship, with a robust entrepreneurship curriculum embedded across all programs.

 SHZQU partners with nearly 20 institutions across Finland, Germany, Japan, and other countries. In 2023, it received accreditation from Germany's ACQUIN. The university is currently launching Zhongqiao–Helsinki Engineering College in partnership with Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki, alongside the IBT Institute for International Vocational Education and the CVTT Sino-German Teacher Training Center. Nearly 100 students participate in overseas study or exchange program annually.

Aligned with Shanghai's regional development strategies and the Yangtze River Delta's industrial transformation, SHZQU continues to advance vocational education reform, aiming to become a top-tier vocational university with global impact.