Welcoming New Talents and Passing on the Torch | Xin Rong Ji Academy Holds Inaugural Industry Mentor Appointment Ceremony

On the morning of June 26, Xin Rong Ji Academy held its inaugural Industry Mentor Appointment Ceremony and Pre-service Training Session for new teachers. Attendees included Chen Changsun, Secretary of the Party Committee of Taizhou Vocational & Technical College; Lu Caiqiang, Deputy Director of the Taizhou Human Resources and Social Security Bureau; Ma Renmiao, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Taizhou Vocational & Technical College; Guo Wuyan, Vice President of the college; Lu Xin, Director of the Institution Personnel Management Division of the Taizhou Human Resources and Social Security Bureau; Zheng Lin, Director of the Higher Vocational and Adult Education Division of the Taizhou Education Bureau; Chen Liqing, Head of the Organization Department of Taizhou Vocational & Technical College; Cao Qun, Executive Dean of Xin Rong Ji Corporate University and General Manager of the Shanghai Region; Lu Bin, Chief Recruitment Officer of Xin Rong Ji; Wang Zichao, Senior Manager of Xin Rong Ji Corporate University; nine industry mentors; heads of relevant college departments; and teachers from Xin Rong Ji Academy. The first part of the meeting was presided over by Chen Liqing, Head of the Organization Department.

Vice President Guo Wuyan delivered the opening address. On behalf of the college, she first extended a sincere welcome to all the guests attending the ceremony despite their busy schedules and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Xin Rong Ji Catering Group for their support in the college's endeavors and to the collaborating secondary vocational schools. President Guo stated that Xin Rong Ji Academy adheres to the principles of openness, innovation, and pragmatism. With Chairman Zhang Yong personally serving as Honorary Dean, the academy is committed to developing a Taizhou cuisine system that embodies local characteristics and aligns with contemporary culinary trends. It aims to cultivate high-quality, skilled talents for front-line production, management, and service in the catering industry and to promptly establish a talent support system compatible with the development of the "Taizhou Cuisine" food industry. The development of the teaching faculty is a crucial guarantee for improving the quality of high-skilled talent cultivation. Currently, a key priority for the academy is to build a dual-teacher team that integrates theoretical research with practical skills, complementing highly educated professional teachers with industry technical experts and renowned corporate chefs, and to innovate the "dual-mentor" model for collaborative education through industry-academia integration. She expressed hope that, under the strong leadership of the municipal party committee and government and with the support of partner institutions, Xin Rong Ji Academy would fully integrate high-quality resources and research capabilities, deeply explore cultural connotations, advance the cultivation of "Taizhou Chefs," accelerate industrial development, continuously promote Taizhou's food culture, and contribute to achieving the modernization goals of "Three Highs and Three News."

General Manager Cao Qun spoke on behalf of the Xin Rong Ji Group and Chairman Zhang Yong. He stated that in talent cultivation, Xin Rong Ji has always prioritized talent development within its corporate strategic planning, establishing a sound system for talent cultivation and development. In industry-academia cooperation, it upholds the philosophy of "integrating industry and education to jointly practice talent cultivation." This Industry Mentor Appointment Ceremony marks another innovative attempt for Xin Rong Ji Academy to achieve deep integration with enterprises and mentors. It also highlights Xin Rong Ji's core corporate culture, contributing Xin Rong Ji's strength to building a national brand for quality Chinese cuisine, developing the "Taizhou Cuisine" food industry, cultivating and developing Taizhou chefs, and fostering future talent for Xin Rong Ji Academy. In the work ahead, joint efforts are needed to achieve quality education. Through industry-academia-research collaboration, the Xin Rong Ji story should be told well to realize high-quality development. It is hoped that industry mentors can continuously explore new paths for mutual benefit between the academy and enterprises in this collaboration, truly achieving effective integration of knowledge and skills.

Subsequently, during the Industry Mentor Appointment segment for Xin Rong Ji Academy, Deputy Secretary Ma Renmiao and General Manager Cao Qun presented appointment letters to the nine industry mentors. They are: Ding Yong (Executive Chef of the High-End Brands Division, Xin Rong Ji Group, and Dean of the Xin Rong Ji Food Research Institute); Bi Jiye (Zhejiang Regional Production Coach and Executive Chef of Xin Rong Ji Linghu Store); Wang Zhi (Executive Chef of Xin Rong Ji Rongzhuang Store); Wang Zhiwei (Executive Chef of Xin Rong Ji Taizhou Store); Li Yi (Executive Chef of Xin Rong Ji Jiulong Store); Qiu Haiwei (National Technical Expert, Zhejiang Craftsman, and Provincial Professional Leader); Mo Jianbin (National Technical Expert and Deputy Director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center of Wenling Vocational & Technical School); Yu Qiang (Taizhou Chief Technician and Head of the Culinary Teaching and Research Group at Linhai Secondary Vocational & Technical School); and Ruan Lizeng (Chinese Culinary Master and Director of the Culinary Teaching and Research Office at Wenling Vocational & Technical School).

Deputy Director Lu Caiqiang spoke on behalf of the Taizhou Human Resources and Social Security Bureau. In his address, he emphasized that cultivating high-quality catering talents hinges on a high-quality teaching faculty. This mentor appointment and new teacher training session will undoubtedly provide strong talent support for Taizhou's vigorous efforts to become a "City of Gastronomy." To support Xin Rong Ji Academy in achieving high-level education, the human resources department will closely align with the municipal government's goal of building a "City of Gastronomy," leveraging the department's functions to contribute to establishing Xin Rong Ji Academy as the "Three Centers and One Base." Finally, Deputy Director Lu proposed four practical measures to promote high-quality education at the academy: First, uphold the original aspiration and adhere to the correct educational direction. While strengthening vocational skills training, enhance ideological and political education to cultivate "dual-high" talents with both high quality and high skills. Second, persist in industry-education integration to support the high-quality development of Taizhou's catering industry, further polishing Xin Rong Ji's reputation as a golden name card for Taizhou's industry. Third, deepen cooperation to form a new model of industry-academia collaboration, turning kitchens into classrooms and classrooms into kitchens, enriching the dining tables of ordinary people and enhancing Taizhou's image as a city of happiness. Fourth, promote catering culture and build the distinctive brand of Taizhou cuisine, strengthening research and development of traditional and new dishes, exploring the connotations between Taizhou's "Hehe Culture" and its cuisine, and integrating factors like culture, wellness, art, and ingredients to make Xin Rong Ji Academy a research and development center for Taizhou cuisine and a research and dissemination center for Taizhou culinary culture.

Secretary Chen Changsun delivered the concluding remarks, noting that the birth of Xin Rong Ji Academy stems from the need for high-quality development of the "Taizhou Cuisine" food industry, the need to promote Taizhou's humanistic spirit of creativity, and the need for Taizhou's vigorous efforts to become a "City of Gastronomy." The appointment of influential and representative experts from the "Taizhou Cuisine" food industry and Xin Rong Ji's head chefs as industry mentors for Xin Rong Ji Academy is an important measure to implement the talent-driven development strategy and advance the "dual-high" construction. It is also a key part of the college's full efforts to build Xin Rong Ji Academy and support Taizhou's bid for "City of Gastronomy." Secretary Chen emphasized three points: First, Xin Rong Ji Academy should strengthen win-win cooperation. It is hoped that industry mentors will actively participate, acting as promoters of the academy's professional development, participants in talent cultivation, bridge-builders for collaborative education, and advocates for external promotion. It is also hoped that the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau and the Education Bureau will continue their support and assistance in areas such as talent recruitment, vocational training, professional development, and student internships and employment. Second, Xin Rong Ji Academy should strengthen service support. All departments must improve the long-term mechanism for appointing industry mentors, go all out to provide comprehensive service support, create a favorable working environment for industry mentors, treat them as "family," granting them responsibility, authority, recognition, and benefits, ensuring genuine arrangements for teaching, genuine allocation of research resources, and genuine provision of service support. Third, Xin Rong Ji Academy should strengthen dedicated education, building the "Three Centers and One Base" (Taizhou Chef Training and Education Center, Taizhou Cuisine Research and Development Center, Taizhou Culinary Culture Research and Dissemination Center, and Taizhou Culinary Talent Training Base), so that the "fresh and sweet" taste of "Taizhou Cuisine" gains nationwide fame and enters ordinary households. Teachers should excel in skill and be sincere in heart, mastering their craft, upholding the teacher's way, establishing teacher's ethics, and forging the teacher's spirit, inheriting the authentic flavor and culture of Taizhou cuisine, jointly building Xin Rong Ji Academy, and collaboratively advancing the "Taizhou Chef" cultivation project.

The second part of the meeting featured pre-service training and an exchange session for new teachers and industry mentors of Xin Rong Ji Academy, presided over by Director Jin Sike.

At the session, Deputy Director Zhang Ying of the Academic Affairs Office introduced the basic procedures for teaching management and operation at the college. Teacher Qiu Haiwei shared his learning and growth journey. As someone always "on the road," he expressed that "planning + goals + persistence + effort + dreams" are indispensable on the path of striving. Teacher Ruan Lizeng shared experiences in culinary major development and teaching from four aspects: talent cultivation models, curriculum teaching resources, innovative teacher teams, and industry-academia cooperation. Director Jin Sike expressed hopes for the teachers of Xin Rong Ji Academy. With Xin Rong Ji Academy taking shape like a fledgling eagle, he hopes everyone can work together to build the academy successfully and spread the aroma of "Taizhou Cuisine" far and wide.

Translator：Jiayang Lin