Institute on track to meet demand from train operators

The Guangzhou Institute of Railway Technology is counting down the time until the completion of its new site next year, a development that will enable it to better meet the demands of both students and the railway industry.

"We see a short supply here," said Chen Shuang, Party secretary of the institute, attributing the situation to the country's fast expanding rail network.

About 2,000 to 3,000 students graduate from the institute every year, but demand outstrips supply.

The metro network in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, plans by 2017 to double the 260 km in operation last year, and further expand to 666 km by 2020.

Intercity rail lines in the Pearl River Delta region in Guangdong are projected to reach 1,430 km by 2020, when high-speed rail is expected to link up the remaining five of the 21 prefecture-level cities.

Guangzhou government early last year laid out a plan to boost output of rail transport-related industries from 13 billion yuan ($2.1 billion) to 100 billion yuan in 2016.

After locomotive and rolling stock manufacturer CSR Corp set up a subsidiary in Jiangmen, Guangdong, in 2010, two colleges in Jiangmen started railway-related courses.

CSR Corp, which merged with CNR Corp in December, also runs two subsidiaries in Guangzhou, and Guangdong Communication Polytechnic in Guangzhou has also started to offer railway-related courses.

Completion of the Guangzhou Institute of Railway Technology's new site next year will increase the capacity by 4,000 to accommodate a total of 12,000 students.

To better meet the demand of employers, the institute has set up steering committees in all its 30 departments, with the participation of companies.

"This way, we know exactly what talents companies need," Chen said. "We are also able to update our knowledge and equipment. Experts from companies come to teach our students. Our students also take internships at the companies."

The institute runs three colleges in partnership with Guangzhou Railway Group Corp, Guangzhou Railway Station and Guangzhou Metro, and is exploring ways to deepen cooperation with the corporate sector.

Last year, the institute was a trial base for modern apprenticeships in Guangdong, and it is applying to the Ministry of Education to become such a base at the national-level.

Wu Yuyu contributed to this story.

(China Daily 01/26/2015 page6)