BEIJING - A pilot program to train Chinese youngsters as mechanics specializing in luxury and high-end cars, part of efforts to ease a global shortage, was officially launched in the capital on Wednesday.

Initiated by the Ministry of Education, the Sino-German Automotive Vocational Education Project has won support from five top automakers: Audi, BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen.

The companies will not only help train students to repair and maintain luxury cars, but will also set up a unified standard for the profession.

"The program will help to make up for a lack of technicians for China's high-end car market," said Liu Jiantong, deputy director of vocational and adult education at the ministry. He added that its graduates will be hotly sought after by automakers around the world.

The five-year pilot program will run in five vocational engineering schools in Beijing, Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, Changsha, capital of Hunan province, Changchun, capital of Jilin province, and Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province.

"More skilled workers are needed to repair and maintain cars, especially superior automobiles with electronic devices," said Wang Zhaorong at the Beijing Transport Commission.

He explained that 10 million cars are being handled by 6,000 maintenance centers every year, while the city is home to roughly 5 million vehicles.

It has been reported that Chinese auto manufacturers will also cooperate with the vocational schools to train qualified blue-collar workers.

Guo An'nan, 16, said he chose the program because he does not want to worry too much about his future. "Those who go to senior high school may have difficulty finding a job in the future, but that's not the case for me," he said, adding that he is confident it will not be hard to find a job as a skilled worker with a car company.

Feng Tongqing, a professor at the China Institute of Industrial Relations, hailed the program as an effort by the Chinese government to advance vocational education.

Authorities should give more support to vocational schools to cope with the rising demand for skilled workers as the country upgrades its industries, he said.

He also suggested further international cooperation, as Western countries have more experience in the field.

China Daily

(China Daily 10/13/2011 page7)