Capacity Building Workshops for In-company Trainers in Apprenticeship successfully held in Wuxi

From 24 to 25 October 2023, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China (MOHRSS) jointly organized Capacity Building Workshops for In-company Trainers in Apprenticeship in Wuxi city of Jiangsu Province. Over 110 participants, including officials from MOHRSS, representatives from China Enterprise Confederation (CEC), international and national experts in skills development, officials and managers in charge from eight pilot cities and two pilot sectors, in-company trainers and TVET teachers attended the workshop.

The workshops aimed to enhance skills of in-company trainers in apprenticeship and skills training, promote mutual understanding and learning between in-company trainers and TVET teachers, and exchange with practitioners from pilot institutions on the development of a national training guide for in-company trainers in apprenticeship supported by the ILO.

In the opening remarks, Deputy-Director of ILO Country Office for China and Mongolia Mr. Xiaochu DAI introduced the ILO’s work on skills and quality apprenticeship and also major areas of the Project Phase 2. He emphasized that apprenticeship is not only an effective way to integrate working and learning to reduce job-skill mismatch, but also a good means to upskilling and reskilling of workers for lifelong learning. Trainers play a crucial role in apprenticeship. The ILO will provide continuous technical support to strengthen trainers’ competencies for better skills development.

One essence of apprenticeship is imparting skills from maters to apprentices. Masters (trainers) play a crucial role in apprenticeship. In line with international labour standards and China’s context, our project will provide continuous technical capacity building for trainers to promote the apprenticeship system in the country."

Mr. Xiaochu DAI, Deputy Director of ILO Country Office for China and Mongolia

The first workshop topic was ‘Building a competency framework for in-company trainers’. Deputy Director of Zhejiang Provincial Apprenticeship Research Center Dr. Guofeng ZHU presented key findings of ILO-supported research on competency indicators of in-company trainers in apprenticeship and the drafted training guide based on research. ILO expert consultant Dr. Michael AXMANN systematically introduced how training and assessment of in-company trainers are designed and delivered in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Five representatives from pilot enterprises in five pilot cities shared their best practices on in-company trainers’ capacity building and positive effects they brought.

Trainers who participated in training further improved their theoretical and practical abilities during school-enterprise cooperation, thus enhancing their role of imparting their long-accumulated knowledge and rich technical experience to apprentices and workers."

Mr. Nianli ZHANG, skilled master of Shandong Wuzheng Group Co., Ltd.

The second workshop topic focused on ‘Technical training of in-company trainers in apprenticeship’. National experts and senior trainers Ms. Yan NIU and Mr. Rongbin LIAN from Zhejiang Apprenticeship Research Center introduced various practical methods and skills for trainers and teachers through interactive training, including self-learning and innovating, communication, curriculum development, teamwork and so on.

On the afternoon of 25 October, all participants went to Hodo Group, a leading enterprise in Wuxi, for an on-site study tour. They visited a Skilled Master Studio, 5G factories and an in-company training center. Participants actively exchanged with experts of Hodo Group on apprenticeship and skills development.

In line with a global revival of apprenticeship and China’s national strategy, the ILO works with MOHRSS and social partners to implement Quality Apprenticeship and Lifelong Learning in China Project since 2020 with the support of J.P. Morgan. Responding to current demands of key stakeholders in skills and apprenticeship, the Project Phase 2 will continue to organize a series of technical activities to strengthen practitioners’ capacities in apprenticeship and vocational training.