云南国土资源职业学院的前身可追溯至1958年成立的云南省地质厅技工学校，历经云南省地质矿产局技工学校、云南省地质矿产局职工大学等发展阶段。2001年，经云南省人民政府批准、教育部备案，合并改制为云南国土资源职业学院，成为云南省第一批独立设置的国有公办高等职业学院和重点建设的示范性高等职业院校，实现了从“成人高等学校”到“普通高等职业院校”、从“以地质教育为主”向“国土资源大行业及社会需求教育”的历史性跨越。

The predecessor of Yunnan Land and Resources Vocational College can be traced back to the Technical School of Yunnan Provincial Geological Bureau founded in 1958, which went through the development stages of the Technical School of Yunnan Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, the Staff University of Yunnan Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, etc. In 2001, with the approval of the People's Government of Yunnan Province and the record of the Ministry of Education, it was merged and restructured into Yunnan Land and Resources Vocational College, becoming one of the first independent state-owned public higher vocational colleges and key construction demonstration higher vocational colleges in Yunnan Province. It has achieved a historic leap from "adult higher education institution" to "ordinary higher vocational college" and from "geological education-oriented" to "education for the large industry of land and resources and social needs".

学校积极响应国家“一带一路”倡议，成立“中巴资源环境国际学院”，培养留学生280人，就业率达100%，获“老挝国家职业标准共建项目示范建设单位”“坦桑尼亚国家职业标准共建项目突出贡献单位”“中巴教育国际合作突出贡献奖”等荣誉。学校传承地质“三光荣”“四特别”精神，学生在国家级、省级各类技能竞赛、科技及创新创业大赛、文体竞赛等赛事中获奖400余项。

The college actively responds to the national "the Belt and Road" initiative, establishes the "China-Pakistan Institute of Resources and Environment International College", cultivates 280 international students with an employment rate of 100%, and has won honors such as "Demonstration Construction Unit of Laos National Vocational Standards Co-construction Project", "Outstanding Contribution Unit of Tanzania National Vocational Standards Co-construction Project", and "Outstanding Contribution Award for China-Pakistan Educational International Cooperation". The college inherits the geological spirit of "Three Honors" and "Four Specialties", and students have won more than 400 awards in various national and provincial skill competitions, science and technology as well as innovation and entrepreneurship competitions, cultural and sports competitions, etc.