IBM nurtures Zhejiang University talent

By Jill • June 8th, 2009

June 5^th,Source: Global Times.

IBM (China) is keen to help develop future IT talent by establishing a relationship with Zhejiang University.

The company signed a memo with the university Friday at the IBM Diamond Building in Beijing’s Zhongguancun Technology Zone. This is IBM’s first long-term strategic alliance with a Chinese university.

Zhejiang University, renowned as the Oriental Cambridge, is the first one in China to initiate a faculty school of software in 2001.Dr. Wang Yang, vice-president of IBM China Development Laboratories (CDL), and Professor Wu Zhaohui, vice-president of Zhejiang University, signed the memo which details the long term program which includes building up an innovation center and setting up a teaching program.

“Actually, this is part of our global talent training program,” said Wang. “This new corporation model is our first one with a Chinese university. But this will not be the last one. The first corporation between IBM and Zhejiang University dates back to 1995, which was called a “Collaborated program for software talents between IBM and universities”.

“We start this special program with purpose of uniting our company’s technological advantages with the power of student talents, the university, and the country, so that we can help solve more social problems, such as the lack of talents in the IT industry and graduates’ job hunting,” Henry Chow, chairman of IBM (greater China group), said in his welcome speech before the signing ceremony.

Wang explained IBM would send its software specialists and professors to teach the students every semester and will provide internship opportunities in IBM China.

President of Zhejiang University Yang Wei said, “By cooperating with a leading company in the IT industry like IBM, we can produce innovative talents that are in demand.”

The project between IBM and the university isn’t just about recruiting students, but also tapping into the university’s alumni network as well. “Since Zhejiang University alumni own many companies in Yangzi River Delta area, they can provide a lot of internship and work opportunities to students,” Wang said.

http://business.globaltimes.cn/china-economy/2009-06/434894.html