Innovation

At the end of year 2016, the General Office of the People's Government of Zhengzhou City issued the document No.384 called "Opinions on Further Strengthening and Improving the Work of Social Practice Activities of Primary and Secondary School Students". From the documents, it shows the importance of off-campus education, which reaches a new height. The document states that “encourage the use of social services and other forms to make up for the lack of resources in the comprehensive practice education base, expand the resources of social practice courses, and broaden the channels of social practice education.” (Zhengzhou Municipal People's Government, 2016).

As a company, Datang Song Yang Comprehensive Social Practice Base has a base and is committed to comprehensive growth education for adolescents. The company believes that this policy is conducive to the sustainable development and it is a strong guarantee for the beginning of social activities for young people, also, it has broadened the scope of business of education. Then the manager began to pay attention to social practice activities and government procurement services and participated in the bidding work of government procurement services in multiple districts. The chairman, the business leader, the logistics department, and the team of counselors, all participated in the innovation.

In terms of construction, the entire base land is planned and classrooms, restaurants, accommodation, conference rooms, and outdoor activities are specifically divided. Each type of building uses environmentally friendly building materials in accordance to the standard to ensure that formaldehyde does not exceed the standard. They used dust cloth to cover the construction site during construction, used water spray to reduce dust every day, and sprinkled water in the camp area in the morning. Fire, food, facilities and other aspects were completed in accordance with the standards.

In terms of operation and setting it up, there are strict requirements for safety and purchases, and traffic insurance and personal accident insurance for students participating in the activity, regular counselor training for teachers to ensure the quality of curriculum to cultivate students' innovation. All of the previous with the goal of spiritual and practical skills development. Also, the company carries out a variety of practical courses in four major areas: survival experience, quality development, scientific practice, and special education.

The base area is large, and there are some undeveloped open spaces. So, the company plants peanuts and sweet potatoes. Students who are in the autumn activities can go on the course of shaving peanuts and digging sweet potatoes and carry out the farming experience. The dug peanuts are washed and put in the kitchen then steamed and eaten for lunch. Students could have a sense of accomplishment and would not waste when they eat what they get from their own labor results. After all the sweet potatoes are dug out, part of the harvest is sold, and some of it is processed into sweet potato starch or made into noodles, making full use of the land resources. On the one hand, this initiative increases the activities and fun for students, and on the other hand, it brings economic income to this company.

Inspiration

The innovation is inspired by the government’s document. Considering that the goal is providing teenager education outside the school, the company is keenly aware that this is a sustainable innovation project that is also conducive to the company's development. Zheng, the manager of this project, said that after consulting with experts, they found that it is even more than a win-win situation, not only to provide quality services for education, but also to make the company sustainable and make economic benefits.

Also, this company’s managers are caring for children's education in China, so they want to find opportunities to use their own skills, that is, many years of experience in providing study & travel programs, to provide quality education services for primary and secondary school students. Therefore, they use this opportunity to provide off-campus education services.

Overall impact

The short-term impact is to fundamentally solve the problem of parents having to pay for their children's social practice activities . After completing one or two days of social practice activities, students have changes in self-care ability, courtesy, practical skills, and teamwork. The long-term goal is to standardize and institutionalize the social practice activities of primary and secondary schools. It can drive a group of enterprises to provide quality services for education, so that these enterprises can beat the competition. Perhaps they will stand out in the future from more old-fashioned centers for practice activities. Zheng, the manager, said that the quality service could develop a brand, and in the future, generations of grandparents and grandchildren will participate in social practices at this base and have an interest in a certain course, which will positively impact their life.

Business benefit

The government funding is 100 yuan per day per student, after deducting the necessary cost of employee wages, insurance, vehicles, catering, teaching aids, clothing, and accommodation supplies, the profit is about 10%.

Because this is a new way to provide off-campus practice activities in Zhengzhou City, it has huge opportunities and potential for development.

Social and environmental benefit

Supporting the state's emphasis on off-campus education, makes up for the lack of resources for public practice comprehensive education bases, expanding the availability of social practice courses, broadening the channels of social practice education, and solving some of the problems in delivering quality education.

The base is generally in the suburbs of the city. The practice of the activities is to make the environment around the base more beautiful. The internal environment of the base is more orderly and greener. It will not be overgrown in the off-season.

Interview

Zheng Wuchao, Manager