Apple released an announcement on its official website today, announcing a new donation to the China Development Research Foundation to launch youth employment and skills development projects in underdeveloped areas. So far, Apple’s cumulative donation to the foundation has reached nearly 150 million yuan, and related cooperation has benefited nearly 2 million teachers and students so far.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said that education is an important driving force for creating opportunities. This new cooperation is based on the long-term cooperation between the two parties and will expand the field of cooperation to the fields of vocational education and future high-tech vocational training to help students master vocational skills suitable for future development.
Dr. Zhang Liang, Secretary-General of the China Development Research Foundation, pointed out that vocational education is an important bridge between learning and employment. The Foundation looks forward to continuing its nearly ten-year cooperation with Apple to help students in underdeveloped areas adapt to the changing needs of the labor market.
It is reported that Apple and the China Development Research Foundation have a long history of cooperation. They have previously launched multiple projects in the fields of rural teacher training, early childhood education improvement, and the integration of new technologies into the classroom. Apple has also long-term supported the work of relevant institutions across China in the fields of education, rural development, environmental protection, and disaster relief.
This newly added youth employment and skills development project will unite vocational schools, industry leaders, researchers and policymakers to promote the precise connection between vocational education and labor market needs and ensure that students master the skills required for key technical positions.
The project will be carried out in representative vocational schools, with industry practitioners serving as mentors to provide training that is suitable for actual work. At the same time, the foundation will also develop practical training projects and conduct relevant research on scalable models for vocational talent training.