Nurturing the next generation with economic info

Four students participating in the JA Economics High School Business Challenge. Company photo

While the nation's business and political leaders are seeking ways to reverse the economic downturn, some Chinese students are also doing their bit to find some answers.

Over 400 students from 36 high schools in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou recently took part in a business management simulation contest, using software to establish student-run companies and practicing business management skills.

"We learnt how to sell stock and raise capital, and how to elect officers. We faced problems we previously only heard about from our parents, including the current financial crisis," said Li Xue, 17, from Beijing 101 Middle School.

Sponsored by the US-based non-profit organization Junior Achievement (JA) and HSBC, the JA Economics High School Business Challenge was designed to enable youths aged 16 to 18 to gather and deploy market information and analyze some practical and creative solutions for managing their own businesses.

Since 2005, a total of 4,465 Chinese young people from 54 high schools across the country have taken part in the program.

And it also provided economics-related training to over 140 teachers in the three cities, greatly contributing to the development of business education in the country.

The program is a hit among students and teachers, said Niu Xiaohua, principal of Beijing No 2 Middle School, as it gives all participants a chance to learn how to run companies and what kind of character a business leader should have.

Through a combination of traditional teaching and launching practical activities by volunteers from local companies, JA Economics Program stands out among similar programs and shows the real world of business to young people.

"Using first-class business volunteers with first-hand experience, we are cultivating character, creativity and leadership among Chinese youths," said Gao Yang, executive director of JA China.

Since 2006, 118 volunteers from 43 companies in China have participated in the High School Business Challenge, using their personal experiences of business management to teach students.

More importantly, "volunteers from JA's partner companies serve as models for young people, developing their character, sense of responsibility and encouraging them to give something back to society when they are young," said Zhang Li, director of the National Education Development Research Center.

In addition, JA has also trained some participants to be teachers, delivering what they learned from JA's courses to the next generation of students.

For instance, after participating in the JA Economics program for two years, Liang Shumeng became a volunteer for the program six months ago, teaching students at Beijing No 4 High School.

"That was my first time as a teacher. What I taught to students in JA's courses was the spirit of honesty, creativity and social responsibility. These were the most important things I learnt from JA Economics in the past," Liang said.

According to Liang, what really moved him when he became a teacher was he found he could help young people understand how to live in harmony with other people, and how to improve themselves.

Actually, the High School Business Challenge is just a part of the JA Economics Program.

Since establishing its China branch in 1993, the world's leading economic education program provider has been implementing a total of 19 programs in over 500 schools in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Suzhou and Hong Kong, making an impact on the lives of more than 600,000 students.

These programs, focusing on business, entrepreneurship, financial knowledge and the principles of personal life and work, have been implemented in elementary, junior and high schools, as well as colleges.

For instance, for elementary students, JA China launched the Our World Program to highlight the role of foreign exchange in international markets. It also implemented Our City Program for nine and 10-year-olds to teach them about public transport and water resources, strengthening youngsters' awareness of environmental protection and urban development.

Courses for middle school students were improved to cover knowledge of the international marketplace, and help young people to discover the values that will guide them throughout their life.

JA also launched the Migrant School Project, helping children from the families of migrant workers know more about the world and giving them positive role models.

Over the past 15 years, JA has worked hard to attract partners from the worlds of business and education. JA China's partner list already boasts famous names such as GE, Coca Cola, HSBC, Amway, Boeing, Cargill, Dow, Ernst & Young, Johnson & Johnson and Motorola.

"While serving young people as volunteers, JA's activities also encourage us to deeply consider the spirit of leadership in today's business world," according to David Wang, president of Boeing China.

(China Daily 02/16/2009 page8)