Suzhou strives to attract students from Wuhan

When Wuhan University student Liu Wan started to head for the high-speed train station to travel to Suzhou, Jiangsu province, she was pleasantly surprised to find a dedicated car waiting on the campus for her and her schoolmates arranged by the Suzhou government.

The thoughtfulness didn’t stop there, as students entering their final year at several universities in Wuhan, Hubei province, who were willing to find work in Suzhou were also treated to an immersive experience during their railway journey.

They were given the opportunity to savor the exquisite flavors of Suzhou’s cuisine, witness the mesmerizing performances of Kunqu Opera and delve into the captivating world of intangible cultural heritage activities on the train, which was named the “University Talent Introduction Special Train”.

Suzhou went the extra mile to ensure that the graduating students felt cared for and cherished. Transportation subsidies of up to 1,000 yuan ($137) were offered to help them travel to and from interviews, and 116 hotels provided free accommodations for up to 14 days, ensuring a worry-free experience for job seekers.

Moreover, each student received a gift bag containing metro transportation cards and accommodation gift cards, as well as vouchers they could use to visit scenic spots and dine at restaurants in the city.

The pinnacle of that experience came during the Suzhou Campus Day event, which was launched last month by the Suzhou Municipal Party Committee Talent Office, the Suzhou Human Resources and Social Security Bureau and the Suzhou Municipal Communist Youth League.

With six recruitment zones and an array of high-quality positions on offer at the event’s job fair, the students were able to explore promising careers in diverse fields such as electronic information, biopharmaceuticals and financial education. The job fair featured 110 employers looking to hire Wuhan students for 3,590 positions.

Representatives from various Suzhou companies have been visiting campuses nationwide since the beginning of the year in an effort to recruit talent. In the spring, 4,898 employers went to 116 universities to participate in 230 job fairs, where 98,000 job positions were offered.

This autumn, Suzhou’s recruitment drive is spreading far and wide, as the Suzhou Campus Day event embarks on a journey spanning 22 provinces, 54 cities and 168 universities. The event will run through December.

With nearly 300 campus job fairs planned, the students will have ample opportunities to connect with employers and explore the potential of Suzhou.

Cao Lubao, Party Secretary of Suzhou, said during the campus day event that the city strives to become a place in which all of its residents can achieve their aspirations and find opportunities.

China Daily