>> Delegation trip to China (Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou)

Within its activities of international marketing of German vocational education and training, iMOVE organised a delegation for  German training providers to China. The objective of this trip was to become acquainted with the conditions prevailing and the potential to be found in the Chinese initial and continuing vocational education and training market. In addition, Chinese policy-making and business were to be demonstrated the competence of German training providers as partners with solutions to problems faced in the area of initial and continuing vocational education and training.

Background

The process of reform in the centrally planned economy has attained a new quality with the People Republic of China’s entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Orientation towards the establishment and consolidation of market economy structures appears to have passed the point of no return.

This is also linked to the goal of establishing quality and productivity standards oriented towards international standards in the Chinese economy. In effect this leads both to the formation of an intensive demand for initial and continuing vocational training services, in particular those offered by the other industrialised countries, in the field of practice both within the economy and in the system of initial and continuing vocational education and training institutions, which are primarily still state-run.

The Chinese government has issued a series of laws over the last few years aimed at supporting the private and foreign commitment to the education and training sector. Many foreign institutions, primarily from English-speaking countries, are already active in China. One special feature characterising the Chinese, however, is education and training “made in Germany”. There are a wide range of opportunities for German providers of continuing training.

Helping German training providers establish a foothold in this market, giving them a direct impression of the Chinese economy, bringing them into contact with prospective partners and helping them penetrate this market on a sustained basis were the objectives of the iMOVE delegation.

Participants had the opportunity to visit Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.