Sixteen million people live in Beijing, which is also home to a third of all cars in the People’s Republic of China. By the time the Olympics arrive here in 2008, it is believed that the capital will have changed immeasurably. The late Deng Xiaoping’s design for economic reform and a desire to see China as a global player is being grasped wholeheartedly by the nation. Its recent entry into the World Trade Organisation has acted as a catalyst to attracting the interest of foreign business.
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At present, the Chinese motor industry remains highly fragmented, with over 100 models produced in some 125 factories which are capable of assembling complete vehicles. Major manufacturers who have a presence there include Citroen, Honda, Toyota (through its Daihatsu stakeholding), General Motors and Volkswagen. A further 600 factories build ‘speciality’ vehicles from parts produced by over 3,000 domestic manufacturers. Historically, China has protected this industry fiercely and imports of components or fully built units are heavily taxed.
Latest figures available from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) show that China sold some 850,000 vehicles on an output of almost 900,000 units during the first half of 2000. After 40 years of development and rapid growth, however, the country’s auto industry is suffering from a relative surplus of production capacity and this is increasing due to the widening gap between output and sales. In recent years, private car sales have fallen sharply. Conversely, demand for midsize and large buses has soared, thanks largely to the growth in construction of expressways and the replacement of public transport vehicles in major cities. Trucks, too, have fared well. Many medium-sized truck makers, for example, have remodelled some of their products to market as light-duty units, which maintain the same freight capacity but enable operators to pay lower toll fees.
Linked to China’s entry into the WTO, the State Economic and Trade Commission and State Development Planning Commission – which controls the automotive sector – has embarked upon a development programme for the industry during the State’s tenth five year plan period, from 2001-2005. Research is underway to identify major development goals, to include investment in scientific and technological development as well as industrial restructuring, market forecasts and attraction of foreign capital. Industry analysts believe that a boost in diesel-fuelled vehicles will be a central part of China’s automotive industry in the coming years and Volkswagen is among those already tapping into the diesel car market. Manufacturers believe that sales of private diesel cars will escalate in line with production, as diesel-powered units now account for over 30% of total output.
At the heart of this development programme is the need to improve standards, quality and variety, instead of focusing on quantity and production capacities. This means concentrating on developing the skills of the workforce. China educates 25% of the students in the world yet has only 1% of the global education budget at its disposal. The country is the fastest growing economy in the world and for those involved in education and training in the UK, this presents a tremendous opportunity to export its expertise.
Whilst training provision for the 3m or so vehicle technicians in the People’s Republic already exists, including on-the-job training as well as classroom tuition, there is no nationally recognised qualifications system. Anxious to align the skills and knowledge base of its workforce with those in Europe, China’s auto industry has, for the first time, looked to the UK for assistance with a route to qualification.
In a ground-breaking new partnership, the Institute of the Motor Industry will examine and certificate trainee motor vehicle technicians in China. Students will be tested in a range of technical disciplines, over the internet, using the Institute’s unique on-line assessment system, which launched in 2001. The system tests the knowledge of vehicle technicians working towards national and vocationally related qualifications and over 5,000 tests have already been taken by UK candidates.
Prior to piloting the initiative early in 2002, tests are being translated into Mandarin by the TED Huaxia Management Studies School in Singapore which learned of the IMI’s credentials through an introduction from the Trade Partners UK team at the British High Commission. The school has been appointed the official IMI approved centre for the project, providing technical support to its partner training organisation, the China Zhongjing Auto Technique and Administration Training Centre (CATC), which carries out training of candidates across China and is providing the IT accessibility to the tests. Dr James Law, principal of the TED Huaxia School, said: “This project will bring about a new dimension to the Chinese motor industry and strengthens the economic relationship between China, Singapore and the UK. Providing the workforce with opportunities to better themselves can only translate into higher growth for the region.”
Following a year of development, in association with Innovative Technologies in Education (ITE) and Click2Learn, the IMI’s on-line assessment system features multiplechoice questions in a range of menus, allowing the candidate to navigate the test according to preference. A randomising facility ensures that every single test is unique and candidates are able to print off details of their performance, which is an aid to identifying potential areas of weakness. Since the data bank of questions is ‘virtual’ rather than paper-based, tests can be modified and updated instantaneously. This has proved invaluable to an international audience, since questions regarding the UK MOT, for example, would be irrelevant to a Chinese technician.
It is anticipated that at least 1,000 trainee technicians a year will undertake IMI tests during the first couple of years of the project. Successful candidates will receive a certificate from the Institute, based on its 600 Series pre-NVQ motor vehicle learning programmes, which is soon to become the new Technical Certificate.
Alan Mackrill, the IMI’s director of education and training, said: “With the advent of internet based testing, this partnership represents an exciting opportunity for the IMI to extend its mission to raise standards on a global scale and we are delighted that the People’s Republic of China shares its vision, along with our partner in Singapore, the TED Huaxia Management Studies School. We look forward to launching the new tests early in 2002 and in time, developing this initiative further.”
The initiative has received the full support of the State Economic and Trade Commission. At the formal signing of the agreement in Beijing, representatives from all parties were addressed by Li Xianglin, former deputy minister and now honorary chairman of the China Automobile Dealers Association. He commented: “In realising our ambition to become a wealthy and prosperous country, China must devote its attention to the application of technology and the qualification of its people. Our cooperation with the IMI gives us the platform to develop the Chinese motor industry through education and training.”
Utilising the internet in this way has paved the way for creating an international standard of technical expertise among those who seek a career in vehicle maintenance, not to mention the potential for the system to assist in the development of sales and management disciplines. Other countries which have approached the IMI in a similar vein include Trinidad and Tobago, whose newly set-up vehicle maintenance corporation is seeking internationally qualified personnel.
