China Wants Fewer College Grads, More Skilled Workers. Sound Familiar?

[GeHAC]

I totally agree that our education system has severe structural & provincial problems.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

@Peter C

Apparently, in both US and China, college education does not equal good job.

The wrench in this is that the US has basically outlawed IQ tests in exchange for a college degree. So this may unbalance some country comparisons.

Jobs in some countries that do not require a college degree may actually require one here. That's why if you don't have a college degree you have basically excluded yourself from the majority of office jobs.

There are vocational schools here for people who don't go to college.

 

[Götterdämmerung]

I thought China has been implementing the German dual-system in vocational education, where you are hired by a company to learn the practical skills three days a week and two days a week you go to the vocational school to acquire the theoretical skills.

We also have vocational colleges where you can obtain the Meister title (German for Master) in a two-year programme after you finished vocational school.

German craftsmen are amongst the best in the world, just compare an ordinary house built in Germany and one built in the US and you will see the visible difference. All the workers at a German car factory must at least go through a vocational school.

 

[StarCraft_ZT]

China needs less educated people, and more factory workers.

Why can't skilled factory workers being educated at the same time?

 

[Zsari]

Why can't skilled factory workers being educated at the same time?

The general attitude in China is that its demeaning for a college graduate to become a factory worker.

 

[tonyget]

I thought China has been implementing the German dual-system in vocational education, where you are hired by a company to learn the practical skills three days a week and two days a week you go to the vocational school to acquire the theoretical skills.

We also have vocational colleges where you can obtain the Meister title (German for Master) in a two-year programme after you finished vocational school.

German craftsmen are amongst the best in the world, just compare an ordinary house built in Germany and one built in the US and you will see the visible difference. All the workers at a German car factory must at least go through a vocational school.

@Götterdämmerung
I have been told, that in Germany they made it super hard to obtain a college degree in order to limit the amount of graduates

 

[TruthSeeker]

This strategy is excellent...as long as all the children of CCP Members are assigned only to vocational schools.

 

[StarCraft_ZT]

The general attitude in China is that its demeaning for a college graduate to become a factory worker.

I think it's not actually demeaning, most of graduates are less competent than graduates in the past.

The over enrollment policy of college is to blame, although more people get higher education, the resource is limited only for a fixed amount of people, more students means diluted education quality. The job market positions are also limited, some lower end positions are filled with trash graduates while higher end spots are vacant.

 

[Aepsilons]

If you are one of the fortunate college grads who has landed a job, your attention will soon turn to launching your career in a successful way by excelling in your first job.

Your attitude and work ethic will determine to a large degree whether that experience is a positive one and provides a platform for a viable career.

Here are 20 practical tips and strategies for success in your first job:

1. Get to know the preferences and expectations of your immediate supervisor. Listen carefully to the directions that he/she offers and also ask other trusted colleagues for suggestions on ways to measure up to your supervisor's expectations.


2. Plan to arrive earlier and/or stay later than your supervisor to prove you are ready to work hard.

3. Send emails (about meaningful work issues) early and/or late in the day to show that you are not only present but productive.

4. Provide your boss with frequent updates on the status of your projects so it is clear that you are making a solid contribution. Ask for help when you are stuck but don't be overly needy and try to figure out as much as you can on your own.

5. Solicit feedback periodically and respond positively to constructive criticism but don't expect the frequency of feedback to match that of your teachers, coaches, parents and professors.

6. Do not miss work time unless it is absolutely essential and then work from home if possible or put in extra hours to catch up when you return.

7. Approach every task with enthusiasm and attention to detail - no matter how mundane (or seemingly beneath you). You will be measured by your ability to carry out your initial role in a positive and effective manner. Your middle name should be "can do" and your attitude should reflect this approach with a smile.


8. Avoid continual checks of your cell phone and other social media outlets while at work. If compelled to do so, try to keep it at a minimum and do so in privacy. Employers don't want to pay you to keep in touch with your friends.

9. Review your social media imprint and make sure any personal information visible to the public reflects a professional image.

10. Establish a complete LinkedIn profile. Join relevant professional groups and add as many contacts as possible. Ask for recommendations from colleagues, clients and other professional contacts over time. This set of credentials will serve you well when you apply for your next job.

11. Introduce yourself to as many co-workers as possible and learn about the role they play and the work done by their department. By scouting interesting departments you will be in position to make internal moves should the need or opportunity arise over time.

12. Offer to help others out, if you have the time or inclination, during their crunch time with projects but only after consulting with your supervisor and making sure there isn't anything else she would prefer that you were doing.

13. Seek out potential mentors who can coach you towards success. It can be useful to have a mentor with just a couple of years more experience and well as a more senior colleague.

14. Affiliate with positive people and avoid complainers and slackers at all costs. Don't gripe or complain to co-workers since you never know who will quote you or cast you in a negative light.

15. Be a team player and treat others at your own level (or below) positively. Give credit to others where due but make sure your supervisor is well aware of your contributions in your updates (use a factual, matter of fact tone).

16. Devise a professional development plan with clear goals and objectives regarding what you will learn and the skills you will acquire. Consult managers, the Human Resources department and professionals in your field and find out what certifications, coursework and/or degrees are advisable for you to advance your career.

17. Join national and regional professional groups for your field and attend meetings and training sessions. Volunteering for committees is a great way to make contacts and raise your visibility professionally.

18. Mentor other less fortunate friends who haven't yet found work. They may be in position to help you out in the future.

19. Consider volunteering locally. The contacts which you make will view you in a positive way as someone who cares about things they value.

20. Keep in touch with all those people, like your recommenders, who have helped pave your way to this first job. These people will feel more invested in you if they can follow along as your career develops.

You'll only have one first job, so make the most of it and you will set the stage for an exciting and successful long term career.

 

[NP-complete]

Vocational education is indeed the most important in today's world. Young people should be imparted the skills required in the industry. University education should be restricted to the most intelligent. Because only they can benefit fully from it. University education primarily enhances creativity and ability but simple people fail to take initiative and cannot fully apply their university education.
Take computer science for example. Theory of Computation is central to CS but most CS grads will do jobs that will make them think of it as something of secondary significance. i.e most CS grads will never do jobs related to the core of their CS program.

 

[Zsari]

I think it's not actually demeaning, most of graduates are less competent than graduates in the past.

The over enrollment policy of college is to blame, although more people get higher education, the resource is limited only for a fixed amount of people, more students means diluted education quality. The job market positions are also limited, some lower end positions are filled with trash graduates while higher end spots are vacant.

The general attitude needs to change. That's the heart of the problem, not the lack of vocational school etc.

 

[jkroo]

I thought China has been implementing the German dual-system in vocational education, where you are hired by a company to learn the practical skills three days a week and two days a week you go to the vocational school to acquire the theoretical skills.

We also have vocational colleges where you can obtain the Meister title (German for Master) in a two-year programme after you finished vocational school.

German craftsmen are amongst the best in the world, just compare an ordinary house built in Germany and one built in the US and you will see the visible difference. All the workers at a German car factory must at least go through a vocational school.

There's a little difference for vocational education. In China, many polytechnical school/colleges adopt the 2.5+0.5(yrs) or 2+1(years) education system that means 2.5/2 yrs in school to learn theoretical skills(continuous) and 0.5/1 yrs in company to learn practical skills.

Geman have a good vocational education system that I admire.

China do the same thing in auto factories for the stable structure of talent and frankly the labor cost. But we still need to catch up for on-job training and self-learning in leisure time.

 

[StarCraft_ZT]

The general attitude needs to change. That's the heart of the problem, not the lack of vocational school etc.

Indeed, but don't forget even in the U.S., the job as worker is not deemed as something superior to be proud of, as doctors, lawyers and bankers.

 

[Zsari]

Indeed, but don't forget even in the U.S., the job as worker is not deemed as something superior to be proud of, as doctors, lawyers and bankers.

Yes, but you can't be a doctor or lawyer with a mere college degree. The belief in China that any desk job is superior to factory worker however is misplaced, and I think rising wage of factory job as compare to low level white collar work will eventually convince Chinese of that.

 

[FairAndUnbiased]

Similar issue here too
Today, an electrician earns as much as an engineer - The Times of India



Going to engineering college is a prestige issue, and a lot of people think going to a polytechnic (electrician,mechanic etc) is being a step lower.

That's like saying "going to high school is a prestige issue. Many successful people are illiterate or dropped out of elementary school, so it doesn't mean high school dropouts are any better."

Yes, but you can't be a doctor or lawyer with a mere college degree. The belief in China that any desk job is superior to factory worker however is misplaced, and I think rising wage of factory job as compare to low level white collar work will eventually convince Chinese of that.

Depends on what factory. A PhD holding research engineer at Intel is not the same as a shoe factory worker.