| dc.description.abstract | New transportation and telecommunication technologies have made the world smaller, international interdependence increased and will keep increasing in the future (Echternact, 1991). China, the fastest economically growing country in the world and the biggest trade country to the United States, is predicted to be "a potential economic giant" in the next century. Current trends indicate that China's international commerce activities will benefit the world economy (Keidal, 1988). China's leadership has moved its economy from the Soviet-style, centrally-driven economy to a market-driven economy since 1978, stimulating more than 10 percent annual growth of China's gross domestic product (GDP) during 1992 through 1994 (Central Intelligence Agency, 1995). Therefore, in late 1993 China's leadership announced an additional long-term reform program aimed at selected state-owned enterprises (SOE) and 18 municipalities. However, the large number of surplus workers in these enterprises is restricting the SOEs' reformation (World Bank Report, 1995). Oklahoma State University's (OSU) School of Occupational and Adult Education (OAED) is helping China's Ministry of Labor (MOL) to develop China's labor market. In this pilot project, China's MOL sent 15 trainees and two interpreters to OSU to participate in an eight-week training in 1996. Several additional groups of trainees will join the training program in the next three years. Trainees' satisfaction with this training program will affect its success. If successful, the training program will help China's economic reforms and, in the foreseeable future, the world economy. | |
