Exploration and Practice of Big Data Technology Talent Cultivation Reform Based on the Integrated “Post–Curriculum–Competition–Certification–Research” Model

Abstract

Against the backdrop of national strategies such as “Digital China” and “Transportation Powerhouse China,” the big data industry has been developing rapidly, and there is a growing demand for interdisciplinary technical and skilled talents who are both proficient in data technologies and familiar with business processes in specific industries. As the main base for cultivating high-skilled talents, higher vocational institutions urgently need to carry out systematic reforms in talent cultivation objectives, curriculum systems, teaching models, and assessment mechanisms. The integrated “Post–Curriculum–Competition–Certification–Research” (PCCCR) model provides an important pathway to addressing problems such as misalignment between teaching content and job requirements, separation of classroom learning from project practice, and mismatch between course assessment and professional standards. Based on the big data technology program and using Huawei Certified ICT Associate (HCIT) for Big Data and other professional certifications as key levers, this paper, from the perspective of the PCCC model, systematically examines the practical challenges in big data talent cultivation; constructs a big data curriculum system that integrates “Post–Curriculum–Competition–Certification–Research” (PCCR); designs a project-based teaching model featuring “tiered progression and full-process integration”; explores mechanisms for deeply integrating certification content with course content and competition tasks; and analyzes the reform effects using teaching practice and performance data. The study shows that big data talent cultivation reform under the PCCC perspective helps achieve multi-dimensional alignment among job requirements, course content, competition projects, and certification standards, significantly enhances students’ engineering practice capabilities, comprehensive data literacy, and career competitiveness, and provides a replicable and scalable practical paradigm for talent cultivation in big data technology programs at higher vocational institutions.