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美国电梯公司奥的斯成为最新一家为中国工人推出培训项目的外资企业 2026-03-25
US elevator manufacturer Otis Worldwide has unveiled a vocational training program for workers in China, following in the footsteps of other overseas companies, such as Tesla.Otis will partner with the China Development Research Foundation to integrate its Otis Technical Academy into the foundation's vocational education initiative 'For the Future,' the Connecticut-based firm said at the 2026 China Development Forum. The OTA has trained more than 4,500 elevator professionals since its launch in 2016.
China has about nine million elevators, ranking first globally, and demand for maintenance and modernization professionals is rising as the population ages and urbanization intensifies. Moreover, the country is promoting deeper integration of industry and education.
The program will first launch in southern China, aiming to train more than 800 elevator technicians a year, with plans to expand nationwide. CDRF will oversee operations and academic credentials, while Otis will provide funds, equipment, training materials, and specialized instructors. Graduates will have the opportunity to directly apply for field service positions within the company.
"Factories are no longer only places where products are assembled; they are becoming deeply connected to downstream services," Judy Marks, chairwoman, chief executive officer, and president of Otis, said at the CDF.
"Artificial intelligence doesn't replace engineering expertise or skilled technicians; it complements them," Marks noted. "The best outcomes come when technology enhances human judgment, experience, and accountability."
Another foreign company with similar plans is Tesla, which requires a workforce capable of evolving alongside increasingly complex production systems.
On March 21, 62 workers from the US electric vehicle giant’s Shanghai factory graduated from Shanghai University of Electric Power, earning either bachelor's degrees in electrical engineering and automation or associate's degrees in power supply technology. Five were awarded Tesla scholarships for academic excellence.
The graduates are the first group to complete the work-study program jointly launched by Tesla Shanghai and Shanghai University of Electric Power in 2021. The program uses a dual-stage, credit-transfer model, and has drawn more than 800 enrolled employees, 258 of whom have passed China's adult college entrance examination to pursue formal university study.
Some of the graduates have transitioned from front-line operators to junior technicians after passing additional interviews, written tests, and probationary assessments.
Source: Yicai Global
