Career-creation education and career training have now become imperative to Chinese students, especially at a time when overpopulation and the shortage of jobs are rife.

"The education department should establish some career-creation training institutions and programs for the youths," says Gao Dekang, President of Dandy Holding Group Co., Ltd.

The total number of young people in China aged between 16 and 35 is 0.38 billion, 30% of the whole population. Every year, according to statistics, the number of unemployed youth will increase by 19 million -- 11.4 million (60%) in suburban areas and 7.6 million (40%) in urban areas. At the same time, unemployed youngsters in suburban areas are gradually moving into urban areas. However, despite China's rapid economic development, its market can only provide 8 million jobs for them every year. Demand considerably exceeds supply.

Career creation has thus become a significant way to relieve the crisis of unemployment. And because of their cultural background and endless vitality, educated youth will be the main force behind career-creation teams.

As a successful career creator, Gao says that the most difficult thing in the career-creation process is not insufficient funds or lack of passion for the career, but lack of efficient methods to run business. Most young entrepreneurs have to learn and practice the methods alone without any guidance and effective experience, he says, and have to work according to the old Chinese saying, "Cross the river by feeling the stones".

Zhang Huiling, an executive officer at Youth Business China (YBC), says that youth employment is an international problem. Youths should not become a burden on society, she says, but social resource and fortune. She also believes that 20% of unemployed youths could be entrepreneurs, yet only 5% really create their own businesses. The rest of them fail at the chance because of either lack of funds or lack of career-creation experience, she states.

In 2002, the Ministry of Education established career-creation education pilots in eight universities, including the People's University of China, Tsinghua University and the Peking University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. These universities research and explore systematic methods of practicing career-creation education as a pioneer. At the same time, Youth Business China collects successful career-creation case histories from society to serve as models and examples for other youths.

Career-creation education programs are also open to other classes of people. Youth Business China (YBC) is jointly launched by the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, All-China youth federation , and China National Industry & Commerce Union.

YBC Executive Secretary General Zhang Huiling says that by June 2007, YBC had established five local offices in Shanghai, Shandong, Shanxi, Fujian and Beijing, recruited 600 teachers, collected 138 cases, and provided more than 2,000 job positions with a success rate of more than 90%.

YBC offers career-creation funds of between 30,000 and 50,000 yuan to people wanting to start their own businesses, and also recommends professional consultants and teachers to guide the young career-creators. Every teacher spend at least four hours per month in communicating with the career-creators and helping them resolve various difficulties that may arise in the process. For the past three years, many successful and responsible entrepreneurs have voluntarily provided consultation, guidance and Internet support, thus protecting and promoting the healthy development of YBC.

(Source: bjd.com, sina.net., edited and translated by KANG TAIYI)