Irish managers urged to apply for EU-China manager exchange

Business managers from Ireland have been urged to apply for the EU-China Managers Exchange and Training Programme (METP) after the programme was extended by a further intake.

The European Commission and the government of China have said the fifth METP intake will start in May 2010. The application phase started on September 21, 2009 and will end on January 7, 2010.

METP was launched in July 2006 as a four-year intergovernmental programme comprising four intakes but this extension will take that to five. About 400 managers from China and the European Union (200 each) have already been provided with training and internship opportunities.

The fully-funded programme allows EU-based companies to train their employees to become qualified experts for the Chinese market.

Selected European managers receive seven months of business Chinese language training, intercultural training, tailor-made seminars and site visits to Chinese companies, cities and administration bodies, before embarking on a three-month internship in a Chinese company.

"Staying in China for 10 months was the best way to gather in-depth insights and to become an expert for the Chinese market," said Catherine Mulvihill of Irish Wire Products, a previous participant.

For further information about how to apply go to www.metp.net.cn.