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US-based elevator manufacturer launches workforce training initiative in China, following the footsteps of other international companies like Tesla. The company is partnering with a prominent Chinese research foundation to incorporate its technical academy into a national vocational education program called “For the Future.” Since its establishment in 2016, the academy has trained over 4,500 elevator technicians.
China currently has approximately nine million elevators—the highest in the world—and demand for maintenance and modernization specialists is increasing as urbanization grows and the population ages. The country is also encouraging closer ties between industry and education sectors.
The initial phase of the program will focus on southern China, with a goal to train more than 800 technicians annually and plans for nationwide expansion. The foundation will manage academic standards and certification, while the company will provide funding, equipment, training resources, and expert instructors. Graduates may directly apply for service roles within the company.
“Factories are evolving from simple product assembly lines to hubs deeply integrated with downstream services,” said the company’s top executive at the forum.
She added, “Artificial intelligence doesn’t replace skilled engineers or technicians but enhances their capabilities. The best results happen when technology supports human expertise, judgment, and responsibility.”
Similarly, another international company is implementing a training program to develop a workforce capable of adapting to increasingly sophisticated manufacturing systems. Recently, 62 employees from the company’s Shanghai plant graduated from a joint academic program operated in partnership with a local university. Graduates earned degrees in electrical engineering or automation, with some receiving scholarships for academic excellence.
This program, initiated in 2021, employs a dual-credit transfer model, drawing over 800 participants. So far, 258 employees have passed qualifying exams to continue their university education. Some graduates have advanced from operational roles to junior technician positions after completing additional interviews and assessments.
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