Innovation@Work Rolls Out in China's 10 Top Universities
Shanghai, November 7, 2009 - UPS (NYSE:UPS) and Junior Achievement launched Innovation@Work, a youth innovation initiative that seeks to foster creative thinking and innovative problem-solving among China's next generation of business leaders. This is the first-ever nationwide student programme by The UPS Foundation in the world. Through a US$ 100,000 grant and the involvement of 100 UPS employee volunteers, Innovation@Work demonstrates UPS's commitment to strengthen the leadership abilities of Chinese university students. These leadership abilities in innovation will be vital skills in their future careers.
"UPS's success in transforming ourselves from a delivery start-up into a leading force in global commerce is the result of 102 years of hard work and commitment to innovation. As a company, we are taught not to be contented with what we have and how we do things. We are always looking out for innovation in our work environment, improving what we do and providing a better service to our customers," said Richard Loi, Head of UPS China and Senior Vice President for the UPS Asia Pacific Region. "UPS is proud to collaborate with Junior Achievement in launching this significant program to help China's next generation of business leaders become more innovation focused."
Innovation@Work involves 10 top-tier universities in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu. Apart from trainers from Junior Achievement, the initiative will also see a hundred UPS employees from various business functions volunteer as facilitators and to share their experiences of innovation in their career.
"The UPS-sponsored Innovation@Work is designed to nurture the capacity for innovation," said Ms. Gao Yang, Executive Director of Junior Achievement China. "We are pleased that UPS, as an innovation-focused market leader, is helping us provide valuable opportunities that will help students greatly improve their chances of securing employment and kick-starting their working lives."
Innovation@Work is a three-part programme that involves six half-day interactive workshops; a "Business Plan Challenge" and a final three-day "Innovation Challenge" to be held in Beijing early next year. The programme is open to all university students in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu.
Forty outstanding students will be selected from the "Business Plan Challenge" to enter the finals in Beijing. At the final "Innovation Challenge" to be held in Beijing in early 2010, students will form teams to develop and present plans for a series of challenging business scenarios to a select panel of judges, comprising business leaders in China and in the Asia Pacific region. Winning teams will get opportunities to interact with UPS executives and will receive cash prizes and other awards.
Through The UPS Foundation, UPS has engaged in various forms of public welfare programs as part of its commitment to become a first-class corporate citizen in China. Since 2004, The UPS Foundation has provided over US$ 2.6 million in grants to non-profit organizations in China. Through the annual Global Volunteer Month, UPS employees in China have also dedicated more than 15,000 volunteer hours during the annual Global Volunteer Month.
In addition, UPS has long supported education and literacy by funding a variety of educational programs, scholarships and endowments to allow for a steady influx of new talent and ideas.
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