Since the early 1990s, we have worked with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) on applying the UK's expertise in National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) to China's request to establish a new national system of vocational qualifications.

In close co-operation with the Occupational Skills Testing Authority (OSTA, set up in 1994) of MLSS, a pilot NVQ in business administration achieved great success. The introduction of British NVQs is to be expanded both in subjects and to different areas in China.

Since the launch of this project:

98 Chinese people have arranged to visit the UK, including policy makers, specialists, officers, as well as leaders/verifiers/assessors from MLSS and local OSTAs, local verifying centres and pilot centres;

Twenty British specialists visited China for consultancy, training and research;

NVQ pilot projects (Business Administration) have been launched and successfully finished in about fifteen pilot centres, including large enterprises and training centres;

We have helped to facilitate an agreement between MLSS and LCCIEB (The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Examinations Board) to promote Chinese vocational qualifications in China in 2000.