Antoine Barnaart is so committed to his life in
China, that he is
even prepared to sometimes make a fool of himself: By singing in
public.
Barnaart, an Australian in his 40s, has been invited to sing on
several occasions at government-initiated gatherings in Chongqing.
"I get great encouragement to do so from my Chinese
counterparts, and it is a rare experience for me which I can take
back to Australia," he said.
As the Australian team leader of the China Australia Chongqing
Vocational Education and Training Project, Barnaart has been living
and working in Chongqing, southwest China, for more than three
years.
Like many of his Australian colleagues involved in the project,
he has been bridging Australian experience with Chinese reality in
a bid to promote vocational education and training that China badly
needs.
With a grant of about A$20 million ($16.57 million) from the
Australian government and a contribution of A$5.3 million ($4.39
million) from the Chinese side, the five-and-a-half-year project is
the biggest Australian aid package to China in the education sector
in recent years.
On its completion in August this year, it will help set up a
demand-driven vocational educational system, backed by experience
and expertise from the Australians, to cater to the changing needs
of China's labor market and industry.
"I find my work here extremely rewarding as we are all working
on bringing immediate changes to students, schools, industry and
society," Barnaart said.
When the first batch of graduates trained by the project hit the
market last year, their employment rate was more than 98 percent.
Most importantly, the graduates had the right mix of theoretical
knowledge and practical skills that made them immediately
productive in the workplace.
To date, more than 6,000 Chinese students have been enrolled and
830 Chongqing teachers trained.
"The high-level support from both governments has made our work
here much easier.
"We are helping China train talented people that are and will be
badly needed by almost all sectors in Chinese society, ranging from
construction supervisors, automotive technicians and electronic
technicians, e-business operators to a range of occupations in the
hotel and tourism industry," Barnaart said.
"The project has involved 51 schools and three universities in
Chongqing and 36 advisors from Australia. The Ministry of Education
is keen to popularize our experience in Chongqing nationwide for
China's vocational education and training policy."
In 2005, Barnaart was presented with the Three Gorges Friendship
Award by the Chongqing Municipal Government together with eight
other expats. His deputy, Jan Chinnery, also received a similar
award in 2006. The award is given to expats in recognition of their
outstanding contributions to local development.
Barnaart sees these awards as a great honour as well as a
hallmark to the importance Chongqing has placed on vocational
education and training.
Having visited many Chinese cities, Barnaart finds Chongqing
especially interesting.
The convergence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers and the
surrounding mountains provides it with unique natural features, and
the extensive number of high-rises built on the hills and mountains
makes it an imposing city.
"Its friendly and happy people ensure that international
visitors like me feel very welcome and safe," he said.
The food?
"Luckily, I like hot spicy food for which Chongqing is famous. I
usually have a Chongqing hotpot at least once a week. Not only does
it taste good but it is fun to eat with my Chinese friends," he
said.
(China Daily May 10, 2007)
