The European Union has teamed up with China to meet the strong demand for professionals and managers by offering an unmatched high-level training scheme aimed at EU managers and professionals interested in gaining China expertise as well as Chinese managers with an ambition to train in management in Europe. According to a survey published recently by the human resources consultancy Hewitt Associates, 55 percent of corporations invested in China plan to hire new staff in 2008. For EU-based companies and especially SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises,) the EU-China Managers Exchange and Training Programme (METP), financed by the European Union (EU) and China, offers the possibility to train their employees to become qualified experts for the Chinese market.

Stefan Hell, Team Leader in Beijing, said: “Despite the strong coverage China has received through the Beijing Olympics, the country and its business culture remains unknown to most European managers. To be successful in China, one needs a profound knowledge of economy, culture and business ethics. And this is what METP offers applicants. At the same time the programme functions as a platform where Europeans and Chinese meet and build long-term relationships - the basic foundation for successful business in China.”

Ideally, these experts will utilise their newly-acquired skills and contacts needed to conduct business with China. Long-term objective of METP is to enhance and to sustainably improve the EU’s relationship with China through exchange and economic cooperation.

Julius Daujotas from Lithuania, who has already traveled to China and participated in the programme said, “The company I’m working for (Umega AB) manufactures heating equipment for industrial and laboratory purposes. Mainly it’s heating furnaces up to 1800 degrees Celsius. Our company is selling quite a lot in Asian markets, for example Pakistan, India, Indonesia, but Chinese market was still unexplored for us. So, one of the main objectives was to enter China with or production.

To do that is a lot easier, when you are able to speak Chinese, when you are familiar with local traditions and customs.” Elaborating on the Chinese way of doing business, Daujotas said, “We met many Chinese business people from all over China, had activities together, where trying to find solutions together in business games. During the cultural training we had a chance to meet each other more closely and many of us became friends.

And for doing business here, in China, to have good guanxi (relations) is very important. Most interesting experience during my stay is bargaining in markets and the way salesmen trying to attract your attention. In first time I was shocked, but then I understand the way of doing this and it became fun. Also it’s a really good practice of your Chinese language.”On the overall impact on his skills, the Lithuanian participant from Europe said, “I entered the programme without having any Chinese skills.

During the language course we’ve learned most important grammatical forms of Chinese language, as well as several thousands of words and we are able to continue improving our language level by ourselves from daily conversation, from TV, etc.” Now I can say, that it’s impossible to master Chinese only in seven months, because this language has lots of variations and ways to express the same thing, plenty of words sound exactly the same, but the meanings are completely different, and so on, but today I can communicate with people, understand them and express my thoughts.

Of course I keep learning Chinese language by my own, but frankly speaking, I’m pretty satisfied with my Chinese skills.” Highlighting the feeling of satisfaction during his graduation ceremony, Daujotas said, “Once again we met Chinese managers, which we first met during the intercultural training. It was great, that I could communicate with them in Chinese, what was impossible seven months ago.” According to information provided by METP, the EU will cover all tuition fees in addition to the organisation of the whole stay. METP will provide participants with a monthly living allowance (about 1,000 Euro).

All graduates receive an official diploma signed by the EU Ambassador to China. METP is a four-year initiative of the European Commission and the Chinese Government and is divided into four intakes, each lasting 10 months. Intake 3 started in October 2008. Application deadline for intake 4 is January 4, 2009. Moreover, the requirements stipulate that applicants should have no or only very limited knowledge of Chinese language, should be between 26 and 40 years of age and must have a minimum of five years work experience.

In addition to credible academic qualifications, the candidates have to present a compelling business plan for their stay in China. Applicants who convince the European and Chinese selection jury of the feasibility of their business plan will obtain an invitation to a personal interview and assessment centre in Brussels or Beijing in 2009.