Download - EU-China Managers Exchange and Training Programme

exchange emerged on the respective “newbie” experiences in a
Chinese versus a European work placement. It was encouraging
to learn that none of the issues observed were perceived as true
obstacles – the participants rather took them as a regular part of
being newcomer trying to work his/her way into a new working
environment.
While the networking day was timed so as to provide
ample opportunity to learn the first lessons from the workplace
experience, it was also designed to provide additional
input for the next steps of the participants' career: life after
METP. Whether as manager or entrepreneur, in the EU-
China context the creation of cross-cultural workforces and
the necessity of accommodating skill sets from very diverse
cultural backgrounds will be something most METP participants
face, whether as employer or as employee. To illustrate
these challenges, and to provide some answers, the project
invited practitioners from various fields to share their experience
with working and doing business in China. Invited as
keynote speaker for the morning session, Dominic Johnson-
Hill introduced his strategy for becoming an entrepreneur in
China. Not following textbook recommendations, but rather
immersing himself fully into the Chinese environment and
a specific neighbourhood, he managed to establish his now
famous “Plastered T-Shirt” brand, becoming a celebrity on the
way. The afternoon session brought about practical advice on
how to approach international team building and staff selection,
introduced from the practitioners' side by Susie Bates,
Vice-President for Recruitment at United Family Healthcare,
a family of hospitals operating all over China’s East and
South. Offering the identification of appropriate and fitting
candidates for a wide range of sectors, how to systematically
eliminate sources of error in the recruiting process by
developing intelligent checks and systems, was introduced by
Michael Maeder of Direct HR, a recruitment company specialised
on identifying experts to be placed in China. The session
was concluded by Adam Livermore, representing Dezan Shira
& Associates, a company offering a variety of professional
services aimed specifically at newcomers to the Chinese
market. He introduced the Chinese Labour Tax Law and the
practical implications for both employers and employees.
Adam also shed more light on the importance of understanding
the relevant HR legal environment when developing a
business and staffing plan. Moderated by Dr. Thomas Hart of
the METP, the experts also discussed the findings of the group
sessions and provided direct feedback to the typical problems
and challenges encountered during the first month of work by
the participants.
By allowing networking time between European and Chinese
participants, also across intakes, the Networking Day was
an important element of METP’s efforts to create sustainable
relationships that will continue after the participants leave the
programme. This Networking Day built on a similar event in
August 2009, when METP 4 participants drew on the expertise
of METP 3 graduates, and will be followed by another chance
to pick up the findings of the then completed work placements
on the day of the METP4 graduation in March 2010 during a
dedicated workshop on the same topic.
A networking dinner concluded the day and brought
together nearly 100 METP participants and alumni in a casual
atmosphere.
7