Goducate Team Leaders from China arrive for training

The first team leaders to arrive for the Goducate Training (Jan 18-22) were our North China team leaders, K and M (names withheld for security reasons). This dear couple have served in north China for 6 years.

They presently lead a team of almost 50 foreigners from US, Philippines and Singapore and about a dozen local Chinese. Most of the foreigners serve as teachers in different universities, colleges and polytechnics. The local Chinese serve as support staff to these teachers and in various important roles in our Goducate training programs.

China is progressing so fast. When we first started our projects in China in 2004 there was great need for English teachers. Today, the supply of foreign English teachers often exceeds the needs of China’s universities. China is indeed becoming an attraction for young foreigners seeking a “China experience” to add to their resumes!

At our strategy meeting last week with K and M, we decided to concentrate on training Chinese students to be leaders. Most Chinese students come from one-child families and lack the social skills necessary for team work and leadership. Furthermore, the Chinese school system emphasizes rote learning rather than creative thinking. As personal study is emphasized over project work, most graduates do not know how to work with others or how to lead others.

Before K went to China he was a branch director in one of Singapore’s largest real-estate firms. While his wife M was a manager in one of Singapore’s largest travel firms. They bring with them a wealth of managerial and leadership skills. In the past few years they have successfully mentored many young live who have since shined in their careers, pursuits and lives.

Goducate plans to start a more structured and effective leadership training program in 2010 to train Chinese to be leaders who will be able to impact the lives of thousands of other Chinese.