An agreement is signed by representatives from Jiaxing Economic and Technological Development Zone, Jiaxing Technician College, the vocational education department of the German Overseas Chamber of Commerce (GOCC), and German companies in the Jiaxing zone on June 16. [Photo/cnjxol.com]

Jiaxing Economic and Technological Development Zone in East China's Zhejiang province decided to introduce a dual system from Germany, according to a signing ceremony held on June 16.

The dual system is the most common form of vocational training in the European country. "Dual" in this context refers to a combination of practical, on-the-job training and theoretical education at a vocational school, ensuring a proper balance of theory and practice.

According to the agreement, Jiaxing Economic and Technological Development Zone will cooperate with Jiaxing Technician College, the vocational education department of the German Overseas Chamber of Commerce (GOCC), and German companies in the Jiaxing zone to construct the "German Dual System" project.

The project will cost 70 million yuan ($9.87 million) and will mainly provide high-skilled technicians to Zhejiang Sino-German Industrial Park.

It will introduce the GOCC's training standards and establish a training center in collaboration with Zhejiang Sino-German Industrial Park.

"This partnership will lay a foundation for the construction of vocational education centers by China and Germany," said Wilhelm Dittrich, director of the vocational education department of GOCC in Shanghai.

Dittrich added that he expected more constructive results from the partnership with Jiaxing Economic and Technological Development Zone.

As a major platform for Jiaxing's opening up to the outside world, Jiaxing Economic and Technological Development Zone is dedicated to constructing itself into a hub of high-end foreign investment.

The Zhejiang Sino-German Industrial Park located in the zone is the first provincial-level international industrial cooperation park in Zhejiang, which is currently home to more than 10 German companies, including Krauss-Maffei and ZF Friedrichshafen AG.

"As an increasingly number of high quality foreign-invested companies set up operations in the Jiaxing zone, it requires more high-level professional technicians," noted Sheng Fuxiang, director of the management committee of Jiaxing Economic and Technological Development Zone.

Sheng expressed belief that the dual system project will offer strong intellectual support to local companies.