Guizhou: Learning Win-Win

To provide additional practical education that can be used to enhance standards of living, the college also provides facilities similar to any other campus, including dormitories, a cafeteria, sports facilities, an on-site supermarket and bank, and more. The most difficult part of the process, as it often seems, is convincing the family that long-term investment in education is best for their children. "It's very difficult to start something new," explained Zhang Huiwei, the college's marketing specialist. "Among poverty-stricken people aged 18 to 24, the majority chooses to get married in their early 20s to please their parents. In their parents' minds, providing immediate and direct support to the family is more urgent than learning things that are ‘useless' in the short term." Since early 2011, Zhang and his colleagues have been making house calls to conduct face-to-face interviews with local dropouts and their parents. "Even though we can't compete with China's top universities, we embrace our unique system that breaks the traditional teacher-centered model in favor of focusing on practical learning."

Bai Niao He Digital Town, a partner of GFC, is a Guizhou Province initiative that was launched in 2014 alongside GFC's first graduating class. The project focuses on big data, a strategic choice for the development of the whole province, bringing both economic and social benefits. Big data refers to data sets that are so large or complex that traditional data processing applications are inadequate. Big data has introduced significant challenges to tech companies as it develops into a new market, which makes it an excellent strategic development tool. Chinese internet giant Baidu and other tech companies have established new offices in recently-completed Dutch-style structures that compose the village that is Bai Niao He Digital Town. The massive campus was placed amidst an outstanding natural environment, creating singular working conditions for its employees.

The relationship between GFC, a project launched by two tech experts, and nearby Bai Niao He Digital Town creates considerable opportunity for collaboration. The situations enables GFC to utilize HTC and VIA company support and focus on acceleration of the development of the big data industry of Guizhou by combining education with production to provide immediate employment after graduation. This is a win-win situation at its finest: By creating a school in a production zone, companies are drawn to the school's focus on specific practical training as well as the opportunities created by the Digital Town, which in turn offer better employment opportunities for local graduates. Companies receive well-qualified employees who have the unique opportunity to remain close to their roots and family while supporting them, yet staying independent and finding new prospects for the future.