Project Piloting Launch and Training Workshop on Quality Apprenticeship successfully held

In times of uncertainty and a fast changing world of work, promoting quality apprenticeship to improve skills and employability of youth will enhance their confidence and resilience into the future of work. During 10 to 11 December, in partnership with Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS), with support of J.P. Morgan Chase, the ILO project ‘Quality Apprenticeship and Lifelong Learning in China’ successfully held Project Piloting Launch and Training Workshop on Quality Apprenticeship in Rizhao city, Shandong province.

News | 17 December 2020
Project Piloting Launch and Training Workshop, Rizhao, Shandong Province, December 2020
During 10 to 11 December, ILO and MOHRSS successfully held Project Piloting Launch and Training Workshop on Quality Apprenticeship in Rizhao city, Shandong province. The objective of the meeting is twofold. First, the meeting provides a platform to share updates and experience in the implementation of China New Apprenticeship Program. Second, the meeting presents the concept, methodologies and practical toolkits of quality apprenticeship promoted by ILO and sheds light on further steps of how all of these can be put into use in China. Representatives from MOHRSS, China Enterprise Confederation (CEC), local bureaux of Human Resources and Social Security of pilot cities (Chongqing, Huzhou, Rizhao and Tianjin), pilot enterprises including China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), pilot TVET institutions and national experts in vocational training/apprenticeship gathered together and exchanged ideas of the implementation of China New Apprenticeship Program. ILO experts from Geneva, Bangkok and Montevideo joined the meeting online to present what ILO has been working in the area of quality apprenticeship and had fruitful discussions with Chinese participants.

In the opening remarks during the piloting launch ceremony, Deputy Director-General of International Cooperation Department, MOHRSS Ms. Xiaoyan Qian highlighted the importance of apprenticeship program as an effective way to foster skilled workers. She expressed the thanks to the ILO’s support and hope that through the project piloting, all pilot units will learn from ILO expertise in quality apprenticeship on the one hand, and have an opportunity to share good practices of China New Apprenticeship Program to the world on the other. Deputy Director of ILO Country Office for China and Mongolia (CO-Beijing) Mr. Xiaochu Dai briefed the ILO to the participants, and stressed that skill development and youth employment are significant fields that ILO has paid special attention to. Nowadays, a global renaissance of apprenticeship indicates that many countries are regarding apprenticeship as an antidote to solve job-skill mismatch. Quality apprenticeship not only facilitates a smooth transition from school to work for youth but also equips enterprises with suitable, skilled and dynamic employees. Against such background, ‘Quality Apprenticeship and Lifelong Learning in China’ project will contribute to capacity building of the apprenticeship program in China.

On the first day of the meeting, Ms. Xian Guan, National Project Coordinator of ILO CO-Beijing presented an overall introduction to the project and specified relevant piloting activities. In addition, Ms. Guan also showcased various ILO tools developed by ILO, including the completed Chinese version of Tools of Quality Apprenticeship in Enterprises, an online course targeted at enterprise managers and HR leads. Mr. Feng Tian, Director of Department of Vocational Capacity Building, MOHRSS provided a comprehensive overview of National Vocational Skill Development Action Plan and China New Apprenticeship Program. Representatives of local governments, enterprises and TVET institutions from 4 pilot cities Chongqing, Huzhou, Rizhao and Tianjin and 1 pilot sector China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) respectively shared how they implemented the Program, what they achieved and aimed to improve.

On the second day, 4 ILO experts from Geneva, Bangkok and Montevideo delivered 4 training sessions to strengthen participants’ understanding of quality apprenticeship in both theory and practice. Mr. Michael Axmann, Senior Specialist of Skills and Enterprise Development of ILO-CINTERFOR explained quality apprenticeship by comparing national implementations of Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Mr. Julien Magnat, Specialist of Skills and Employability of ILO DWT-Bangkok further elaborated 6 building blocks of quality apprenticeship. He mentioned that with 6 building blocks in place, quality apprenticeship can be beneficial to governments, employers and workers. Mr. Pedro Moreno da Fonseca, Technical Specialist on Lifelong Learning of ILO Geneva specifically introduced the concept of core skills and lifelong learning and the ways to integrate core skills into apprenticeship training. Mr. Ashwani Aggarwal, ILO Quality Apprenticeship Global Team Leader and Senior Specialist of Skills and Employability pointed out new trends of apprenticeship training such as digitalization and solutions to certain issues in apprenticeship training, especially for SMEs.

Project Piloting Launch and Training Workshop on Quality Apprenticeship marks the outset of a series of piloting activities. Following the meeting, a survey will soon be conducted among all pilot units to collect the updated information on the implementation of China New Apprenticeship Program for research. Meanwhile, practitioners of apprenticeship programs will start piloting the online course ‘Tools of Quality Apprenticeship in Enterprises’. Based on needs of pilot enterprises and TVET institutions, subsequent capacity building workshops will also be organized in order to share knowledge and train practitioners in apprenticeship in China.