Crayfish restaurants are already popular in central China's Hubei Province, with the city of Qianjiang exporting crayfish all over the world. But now a young school is graduating crayfish chefs, saying it's a job in high demand.
The Qianjiang Crayfish Vocational College gained sudden popularity after the school announced most of its students had already received job offers prior to graduation. It's said to be a school that has reached perhaps the best of educational outcomes.
Students Yu Dashuang and Guo Xinxin received two years of professional training at the school. Now, they feel ready for the work world.
"I have more knowledge in cooking theory, but at work, I will have to learn from the older chefs. We've experienced systematic training, and we can make progress through practice," Yu said.
Seafood is a major driving force in Qianjiang's economy. / CGTN Photo
More than 800,000 tons of crayfish are produced in Hubei Province annually. Many cities in China have even developed their own crayfish culture. On Guijie, a well-known crayfish street in Beijing, one crayfish cost about three U.S. dollars.
Yu found a job in a kitchen on Guijie.
Being able to handle a chef's position is the school's major education goal. That's why it teams up with restaurants nearby, providing students with internship opportunities.
But being a chef is not the only choice. Guo is looking for a management position.
"This internship opportunity helps me understand how a kitchen operates," Guo said.
"Chefs get trained according to professional standards. One who doesn't go through the learning process may have improper food handling habits. We need to standardize our restaurant's operation," said Cao Lijun, general manager at Crayfish King Restaurant.
Guo Xinxin during his internship in a restaurant kitchen near the school. / CGTN Photo
The school's first graduating class received its diplomas in late June. School officials said that the crayfish gourmet industry has entered an era with high-quality talents.
"Vocational education is comprehensive. It's a combination of general education and vocational skill training. For example, they have to take both English classes and hotel management classes," said Ma Guangjun, headmaster of Qianjiang Crayfish Vocational College.
China announced plans to increase the amount of national scholarships for advanced vocational schools. The upgraded enrollment system provided opportunities for high school graduates, military veterans, laid-off workers and migrant workers.
The country's next step should be to focus on standardizing the curriculum system and increasing the staff quality, Ma said.