In a bright, spacious classroom in Mongolia, over 20 local production line employees of the China Railway Resources Group’s Xinxin Company, a subsidiary of China Railway Group Limited, have gathered for a lecture by Li Zunfu from Shandong Vocational College.
Li, with the help of the Center for Chinese Language and Professional Skills, has conducted in-depth research, collecting over 3,000 basic Chinese terms and phrases for the employees he is working with. He has also arranged for more than 20 of the Mongolian staff members to take the HSK Chinese proficiency test and receive training in Chinese culture and language, introducing them to Chinese past times such as tea art, culinary skills and riddles.
China Railway Resources Group’s Xinxin Company is the country’s largest single mining enterprise in Mongolia. The company strives to create favorable conditions to enhance the professional skills and development of local employees, paving a "green channel" for their growth.
To this end, the company has applied to be part of the “Chinese Bridge” project, an initiative run by the Ministry of Education’s Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC).
Breakthroughs in Language and Technology
Last year, with the guidance of the CLEC and the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Talent Center, Xinxin established the Center for Chinese Language and Professional Skills (Production-Education Integration Center). Since then, the company has signed cooperation agreements with several domestic vocational colleges, arranging for teachers to conduct combined Chinese language and technical training with workers.
The company is currently engaged in extensive discussions with domestic vocational colleges to establish three kinds of courses: Language classes to improve foreign employees' Chinese listening, speaking, reading and writing skills; specialized technical classes to enhance foreign employees' professional knowledge and skills; and vocational classes to cultivate professional ethics and craftsmanship.
Once a week, Mongolian employees who can speak Chinese conduct Mongolian language classes with Chinese workers. To date, over 50 sessions have been held. Last month, during the Naadam Festival, Chinese and Mongolian employees participated in activities together, promoting cultural integration.
Improvement in Skills and Performance
Since 2021, Xinxin has linked job skill levels to allowances for Mongolian managers and technical workers. The company established a skill evaluation committee to conduct annual comprehensive assessments of local technical workers, evaluating their professional skills, theoretical knowledge, professional ethics and daily performance. Based on assessment results and skills attained, technical levels are determined and corresponding allowances are provided.
These measures have significantly enhanced the motivation of Mongolian employees.
In the future, Xinxin Company will continue to explore and innovate, providing better training resources and more development platforms for local employees, contributing to the company's high-quality development.
(Executive editor: Zhu Zeya)
