<p>This study explores the evolution of higher vocational education (HVE) in Shanghai, tracing its transformation within the broader context of state formation and globalization. Using an intrinsic case study approach, interviews with policymakers, college administrators, and researchers as well as observations at six higher vocational colleges (HVCs) were conducted. The analysis identifies three central themes: the role of policies and strategies at the national and local levels in shaping and transforming HVE, the impact of neoliberal globalization and local adaptation, and the role of the HVE system in the metropolis. The study also introduces a spatial triad perspective as a supplement to further discuss the status of HVE within the urban spatial structure. The findings demonstrate the complex interplay between HVE and the urban development progress, illustrating how policy and socio-economic forces shape educational practices and how the local actors respond to these dynamics.</p>