Volunteers at the Beijing Olympics will be brought under a
tailored language-training program, part of a strategic plan drawn
up by educational leaders from home and abroad.
The plan also includes the online training of high-end
administrative talents, and the sharing of teaching resources and
research achievements, announced Hao Ping, president of Beijing
Foreign Studies University (BFSU) on Friday.
However, he didn't reveal the details of the language-training
program.
Endorsed by BFSU, the University of Nottingham and U21Global, an
online graduate school network, the plan aims to raise skills among
volunteers and in businesses and the tourism industry in the run up
to the 2008 Games.
According to China International Travel Service, during the 21
days of the Games, Beijing will host 4.8 million overseas athletes
and spectators, as well as 153 million domestic visitors.
An online master's degree education will cover travel
management, information technology management, business and
international commerce.
Hao said e-learning is a highly efficient way to integrate
teaching resources, educational services and new technology from
different places.
Both Hao and Colin Campbell, vice-chancellor of the University
of Nottingham have identified a huge education market in China's
travel industry, where administrative skills remain relatively
low.
"E-education is open to those who cannot attend regular
full-time study but require further education," said Campbell, who
has experience in exploring the educational market in China with
the operation of the university's Ningbo campus in Zhejiang
Province.
Mukesh Aghi, CEO of U21Global, promised a high-end global alumni
network and interactive workshops for those preparing to
register.
Some 3,000 students from 60 nations have registered with the
network, in which participants are allowed to enjoy abundant
educational resources from its 20 member universities, including
Waseda University in Japan and Shanghai's Fudan University.
(China Daily July 7, 2007)