Practical training centers for int'l students launched

As part of Shanghai's long-term plan to promote education reform and development by 2020, the city will be building more practice-based centers for overseas students starting this year.

In November 2016, a total of 11 enterprises in Shanghai were identified as places where overseas students can gain practical job experiences and these companies will be offering internship positions that can be found on the official website www.study-shanghai.org.

The move has already won applause from international students in the city such as Liping Ndabaneze, a student from Burundi who is studying the Master of Enterprise Management at Shanghai Donghua University.

"For a foreign student without working experience, it is not easy to find a good job or even an internship opportunity. Meanwhile, you don't know what kind of work fits you well unless you have tried it. The internship experiences in China will allow me to pave my future career path. It will help me accumulate valuable working experience and skills," said Ndabaneze.

Donghua University is among the schools with highest number of overseas students. In 2016, more than 4,000 international students from over 140 countries were studying in the university.

Over the years, the university has constantly expanded its partnership with enterprises and organizations to help their international students gain practical job experiences and learn how to be innovative. So far, the university has established a number of practice-based centers at more than 30 enterprises and organizations.

Attracting top talent has been one of the key components in Shanghai's drive toward becoming a global hub for scientific innovation. As such, authorities have been keen to establish the city as a vibrant education destination to aid this goal.

Earlier, the city had launched a number of comprehensive service centers for international students across the city. These centers provide one-stop services for international students such as consultations on educational policy, information about schools and courses, language training and assistance with visa applications.

"These centers will help more international students quickly adapt to life in the city and have a better understanding of Shanghai. It will promote the implementation of the city's international education strategy," said Yang Weiren, head of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission's international exchange department.

Education officials said that more of these centers and other services will be unveiled in the near future.

wanghongyi@chinadaily.com.cn