Preparing for the future
Training centers and universities are working hard to prepare employees for the new technical jobs emerging around Ulaanqab's expanding data center industry.
Employers need workers who can maintain data center facilities, manage electrical and cooling systems and support network operations. New opportunities are also emerging in AI-related development, data governance and model testing, Liu Junping, deputy director of the Qahar High-Tech Industrial Development Zone administrative committee, said in an interview with China Youth Daily.
More than 15,000 people are directly employed by data centers across Ulaanqab, local media reported in May.
Runchuang Industry College opened in 2022 to meet the growing demand for skilled workers. The college's programs combine classroom instruction with hands-on training. "As the data center industry grows, so does the demand for skilled technicians," said Ao Demu, a teacher at the college.
Every new data center building typically requires 10 to 20 operational staff. "More companies are also coming to us with specific tailored needs," Ao added.
Since its launch, the college has trained 909 people and more than 260 vocational college students. More than half the trainees were changing careers, while some had previous experience in equipment maintenance. Trainees must pass assessments before they can be recommended to potential employers.
Of its 609 trainees in 2025, a total of 528 landed jobs, according to the college. Their employment destinations included data centers and related companies in Ulaanqab and Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, as well as companies in other parts of China.
Jining Normal University is creating an academic route into the sector through research, undergraduate programs and close cooperation with the industry.
The university's Beijiang Computing Research Institute focuses on data-related studies and technology transfers, while providing students with opportunities to participate in research projects and information gathering, said Sun Wei, a faculty member.
Zuo Hemeng, 21, a local student majoring in data science and big data technology, hopes her studies will open up career prospects near home. She hopes to stay in Ulaanqab after graduation and work at a data center or in a job related to computing.
University president Zhou Jianhua said the school is seeking approval for three computing-related majors and five micro-majors focused on specific fields to cultivate talent. It is also exploring closer cooperation with vocational colleges to create pathways from vocational education to undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
