70,000 vocational workers will receive training

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City & Guilds and the national Occupational Skills Testing Authority (OSTA) in Beijing have signed a collaborative agreement to train 70,000 “vocational” workers in China in preparation for the Beijing Olympic Games and beyond.

The contract with China’s leading government authority on vocational skills accreditation allows students to take a range of City & Guilds” International Vocational Qualifications (IVQs) in Chinese. These cover retailing, telecommunication systems, international tourism, and hospitality and catering ““ areas where China is experiencing a severe shortage of qualified professionals as it prepares for the Beijing Olympic Games and World Expo.

Both organisations will work together to support workforce development for the Olympic Games and develop joint programmes in catering and hospitality for the Olympics Training Committee, Beijing City Tourism Bureau and Beijing Tourism Group.

According to Calvin Tan, Asia Hub Manager of City & Guilds: “China is a great economic success story and needs to be bolstered by the right level of highly skilled and competent workers in growth areas. The Olympic Games and other key milestone events taking place in Beijing will require a cohort of highly skilled technicians and a professionals at all levels to support the whole infrastructure.”

Tan confirms that City & Guilds is well placed to assist the Chinese Government in equipping its workers with the skills required and has advised and worked with other government departments around the world on developing their national vocational education system.

With offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, City & Guilds has, over the past 10 years, been offering joint certification of awards in retailing, tourism and telecommunications with the Ministry of Labour and was the first awarding body in China to be given a licence to practice in the country.

City & Guilds works with various Chinese organisations including Youyi Shopping City Co. Ltd., Lufthansa Centre Beijing and Telecommunication Occupational Skills Testing Authority of Beijing, and advises them on standard setting, assessment and customised solutions.