Shanghai nurtures housekeepers into university graduates
Zhu Chunnan is taking a flower arrangement class. [Xinhua/Photo]
Having worked in housekeeping services for 15 years, Zhu Chunnan found she has significantly shifted from being timid and feeling inferior to now being confident and passionate. Today, she has accumulated dozens of certificates for skill and honorary, witnessing the changes and developments in Shanghai's housekeeping services.
Along with more than 90 classmates, Zhu Chunnan just completed her undergraduate studies in the domestic-service major at Shanghai Open University, fulfilling her dream of going to university.
"Shanghai Open University is the first Shanghai institution to offer a bachelor's degree in domestic services, with the majority of students being industry practitioners," said Yang Wanling, head of this undergraduate program.
Since the program began in March 2021, many students have gained professional confidence and broader career development opportunities.
Zhu Chunnan is making dumplings in her employer's home. [Xinhua/Photo]
In contrast to vocational education's "technically-oriented" approach, the curriculum emphasizes comprehensive learning and training. "Based on the standardization and professionalization of the curriculum, we aim to optimize the training system and better meet the needs of students," said Yang.
The undergraduate program spans three years and covers courses such as family education, family nutrition, laws and regulations in domestic services, family health management, living consumption, and home aesthetics.
Yang takes cooking as an example. "Knowing how to make delicious dishes is not enough. Students will grasp how to achieve a scientifically balanced nutritional ratio through ingredient combinations after studying the course of nutrition and health management," Yang explained.
Furthermore, the undergraduate program contains two directions: enterprise management and advanced services. The first is for domestic services’ founders or managers, while the latter is for frontline housekeeping practitioners.
According to Wang Shuxia, president of the China Household Service Business Association, the domestic service business has undergone new developments, presenting a new appearance.
Domestic service has evolved from simple laundry and cooking to diverse tasks, including family education, household management, nutrition-based meal planning, and early childhood cerebral growth, breathing new life into the industry.
Students attend the housekeeping service class at the Shanghai Open University. [Xinhua/Photo]
Lu Qi, dean of the School of Public Administration at Shanghai Open University, believes that developing the domestic service industry can address social needs and create employment opportunities for young people.
"Currently, approximately 750,000 are engaged in domestic services in Shanghai, but there is a shortage of about 30,000 high-end domestic service practitioners, such as the ones for international household services or for domestic service management.
Source: China Youth Daily; trans-editing by Guo Yao