Volunteers at the Beijing Olympics will be exposed to a tailored language-training program. It might be well worthwhile being a volunteer just for this part.

According to Hao Ping, president of Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), it is part of a strategic plan drawn up by educational leaders from home and abroad amd includes the online training of high-end administrative talents.

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.

An online master’s degree education will cover travel management, information technology management, business and international commerce.

Hao Ping said e-learning is a highly efficient way to integrate teaching resources, educational services and new technology from different places.

Both Hao and Sir 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.

Sir Colin Campbell said, ‘E-education is open to those who cannot attend regular full-time study but require further education.’ Sir Colin Campbell has had 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 have the advantage of educational resources from its 20 member universities, including Waseda University in Japan and Shanghai’s Fudan University.
Source: China Daily