Charting a New Course: The Impact of Vocational Education and Innovation on Cultivating China’s Talent
VIEW EVENT DETAILSJ.P. Morgan-Asia Society One Step Ahead Series
Symposium
Registration 8:30am
Open 9:00am
Close 1:30pm
Please RSVP by email to [email protected] or fax to +852 2567 7916.
In the last several decades, China’s education system has undergone tremendous reform. Yet as the country transitions to sustainable economic growth, its education system has not produced a workforce capable of filling today’s demanding jobs. Over the past few years, the Chinese leadership has invested heavily to expand vocational education across the country and improve its quality to further boost employment and address the current skills mismatch. As China’s working-age population declines, the government has also identified innovation as the main engine for its new growth model. The symposium convenes leading experts from government, the private and not-for-profit sectors, and academia to explore vocational training and innovation as the means to grow China’s talent pool.
Keynote Address | The Current State of China’s Labor Market
As China’s economic restructuring continues, it has brought about a greater demand for a more highly-skilled workforce. The address examines how the country’s education system can tackle varied labor challenges that China faces, as it transitions to an innovation-driven economy.
Sharing Session | Vocational Training and Education
Vocational education and training have a key economic function in providing young people with the skill set and qualities needed to integrate and succeed in the marketplace. What are the models and initiatives in China and globally to address teaching quality in secondary vocational schools, and enhance technical and soft skills of students? This session presents a case study of a systematic intervention in vocational education in China and outlines best practices in the United States and beyond.
Panel I | Growing China’s Talent Pool through Vocational Education
The Chinese Government places renewed emphasis on the importance of vocational education to train the next generation’s workforce, as evidenced in the 13th Five-Year Plan. It promises to improve the modern vocational education system, encouraging some universities to become vocational institutions, and boost cooperation between schools and enterprises. The session focuses on the current provision of vocational training in China, and the adequacy and quality of such training.
Panel II | Addressing China’s Labor Shortage: Is Innovation the Answer?
A key driver of China’s economic miracle, the workforce, has begun to stall, with the working-age population in decline since 2011, when it peaked at 925 million. It is expected to drop more than 20 percent to 700 million by 2050. With the oncoming labor shortage, the country needs to accelerate productivity through innovation to maintain momentum. The session explores the declining working-age population, what is being done to counter it and whether innovation is the primary solution.
Closing Keynote Dialogue | China’s Future Economic Growth Model
As China’s working-age population continues to shrink, the country must grow its talent pool to counter the trend. How can the current generation be better prepared, when entering the job market? The dialogue explores the economic growth model China should adopt, as it moves up the value chain.
Event Details
The Peninsula Beijing, 8 Jinyu Hutong, DongDan, Dongcheng Qu, Beijing Shi, China, 100006