TIANJIN — Rozimemet Turghun has made an incredible journey in just two years, from sheepherder on the pastures, to robotics enthusiast competing on the national vocational skills stage.

Representing his hometown team from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the 18-year-old stood among more than 4,000 contestants at the second Vocational Skills Competition, which closed late last month in Tianjin municipality.

Although he didn't win a medal in the mobile robotics category, his enthusiasm was unwavering.

"While there's still some ground to cover compared to top-notch participants, I pushed through and completed the event, which was thrilling," Rozimemet Turghun says.

Born in Aktokay village in Xinjiang's Aksu prefecture, he didn't leave the countryside until he started at Aksu Technical College two years ago.

"My parents made a living from herding, and I used to accompany them to the mountains to tend to the sheep," he says, adding that he couldn't have imagined leaving his remote village and leading a life different to his parents back then.

During his free hours, he developed a penchant for tinkering with household electronics. Even without formal instruction, he was able to methodically troubleshoot and repair electronic devices like lamps and radios.

After completing middle school, he enrolled at Aksu Technical College.

The turnaround came in March last year, when Zhao Pengfei, vice-dean of the electrical and mechanical engineering department, started assembling a team for a skills competition.

Rozimemet Turghun's remarkable hands-on abilities caught Zhao's eye during the selection process. He was chosen to join the team, and focused on technologies related to industrial robot applications.

"I initially thought that a middle school graduate might struggle to grasp the knowledge needed for the competition. However, he quickly understood what the teachers were explaining, and was able to put it into practice," Zhao says. "His most valuable trait is his tenacity."

The competition involved programming industrial robots, a formidable challenge for someone with little experience with computers. Undaunted, Rozimemet Turghun acquired the essential skills, memorized the position of each component, and practiced each assembly step, day and night.

In April, he and teammate Peng Ruixue took their first steps into competitions and clinched first-place in the mobile robotics category at a prefectural vocational skills competition.

A month later, the pair won a bronze during the Xinjiang tryout for the second Vocational Skills Competition. Rozimemet Turghun astonished everyone by completing the disassembly and assembly of a mobile robot in just 2 hours and 12 minutes, an achievement that would have been beyond his wildest dreams, even two months ago.

Vocational education is high on the policy agenda in China. According to the education ministry, approximately 10 million people graduate from secondary and higher vocational schools every year. This consistent supply of skilled workers has helped staff production lines and outlets around the country.

"With the advancement of technology and upgrades to manufacturing equipment, the complexity of electrical devices is increasing, and the precision needed for installation and debugging is also rising," Zhao says. "Skilled individuals are in greater demand than ever."

Zhao aspires to introduce cutting-edge technologies from the competition to remote classrooms and benefit more students in Xinjiang.

As the countdown reached zero on the day of the competition, Rozimemet Turghun was unable to tear his eyes away from the robots on the field. He lingered, reluctant to leave.

Every competition has not only honed his skills, but has also shaped his future. "When I herded sheep as a child, I never thought about the future. Now I hope to refine my skills and step onto even broader stages."