Recently, CMOC's project titled "Co-building the 'Ban-Mo Academy' to Facilitate Localized Talent Development in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)" was selected as an outstanding overseas communication case for China's vocational education brands going global in 2025 by the overseas edition of People's Daily Online, garnering widespread recognition for the company's exemplary practice of "teaching people to fish" in the DRC. Currently, CMOC operates two world-class mines, TFM and KFM, in the DRC, with over 90% of its employees being local Congolese. In its daily operations, the company faces the challenge of a shortage of localized talent. However, China's "Going Global" strategy for vocational education provides policy support for the international integration of industry and education. Against this backdrop, CMOC collaborated with Zaozhuang Vocational College of Science and Technology, leveraging the platform of the "Nonferrous Metals Industry Talent Center," to jointly establish the "Ban-Mo Academy." The academy conducts "Chinese language + vocational skills" training, aiming to cultivate high-quality local talent that meets corporate needs and to promote China-Africa vocational education cooperation. In November of last year, two instructors from Zaozhuang Vocational College of Science and Technology, Li Ziguo and Yang Qiyong, traveled to the TFM company in the DRC to conduct a two-month welding skills training program. The training adopted a "theory + practice" model, covering fundamental welding knowledge, safety operation protocols, equipment usage and maintenance, welding techniques and methods, quality control and inspection, and troubleshooting for common issues with case studies. By February this year, the inaugural training session concluded successfully, with over 70 trainees completing the program and demonstrating significant improvement in their skill levels, injecting new vitality into TFM's subsequent production. Throughout the implementation process, in addition to employing strategies such as "university-enterprise cooperation and platform co-construction" and "customized plans for precise training," CMOC also introduced numerous innovations. These include a model innovation—pioneering the "Chinese + vocational skills" training model that combines language learning with skill enhancement to meet the demand for interdisciplinary talent in China-Africa cooperation; and a cultural innovation—by naming it the "Ban-Mo Academy," the initiative inherits the spirit of Chinese craftsmanship and promotes cultural exchange and mutual learning between China and Africa. Since its launch last year, the project has been reported and republished by several Shandong-based media outlets, Xinhua Net, China Daily, and various major portals. "The skills training has enhanced the competitiveness of both individual employees and the company, while also fulfilling our corporate philosophy of 'sharing success' and providing solid support for local employment," stated CMOC. "The project itself represents a form of cultural strength, showcasing the advanced concepts and practical achievements of Chinese vocational education to African nations, which can elevate the international standing of China's vocational education. The company hopes this project can also serve as a replicable practical model for China-Africa vocational education cooperation." CMOC plans to launch a similar skills training program at the KFM project site in the first half of next year. From a long-term development perspective, the company will continue to deepen its collaboration with international educational institutions, focusing on advancing three key initiatives: establishing an internationally recognized skills qualification certification system; dispatching senior technical experts to provide on-site teaching guidance; and implementing a "Two-Way Exchange Program for International Skilled Talent." This involves selecting outstanding technical骨干 to pursue advanced studies at overseas institutions while inviting international faculty teams to teach in China, thereby building a global ecosystem for talent cultivation.
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