New Quality Productive Forces-Oriented Enhancement of Career Guidance Competencies for University Counselors in Mechanical Engineering

Driven by technological innovation and oriented toward high-quality development, New Quality Productive Forces (NQPF) are accelerating the iterative upgrading of high-end equipment, intelligent manufacturing, and other strategic emerging industries. This transformation has imposed higher requirements on talent cultivation and career guidance within mechanical engineering disciplines. As the frontline practitioners of student career development, the competency of university counselors directly influences the students’ employment competitiveness, the realization of educational objectives, and the alignment between talent supply and the demands of NQPF. Taking the School of Mechanical Engineering at Qilu University of Technology as a case study, this study analyzes the practical dilemmas faced by counselors in employment guidance under the NQPF framework, and proposes targeted pathways for competency enhancement tailored to the characteristics of mechanical engineering education. By evaluating the implementation logic and practical outcomes of these pathways, the study provides both theoretical support and practical references for strengthening counselor teams and improving the quality of employment guidance services in engineering colleges.