Seeking talent in civil affairs

China is making efforts to produce more talent to work in civil affairs industries — including elderly nursing, rehabilitation, and marriage and funeral services — by optimizing the nation's education system, with an aim to diversify young people's career choices and improve people's livelihood.

Nineteen-year-old Chen Xuetong, a freshman majoring in funeral services at China Civil Affairs University, said though she sometimes feels "blue" and has psychological fears, she remains determined to find work in her chosen field in the future.

Founded in 1959, CCAU transformed from a junior college to a full fledged university last year. Since then, it has established the nation's first undergraduate major focusing on funeral services and marriage planning and services, while retaining some junior college study programs.

"I didn't have a very clear idea about funeral services at first, as my parents chose the major for me, but I've got a good understanding of the major after a year of learning," she said. "This major requires being both mentally tough and highly skilled."

Chen said she was impressed by a recent field training course where she observed the work of mortuary cosmetologists, whose job it is to prepare the deceased for funerals.

"The deceased looked like they were simply sleeping," she said. "I hope I can do that job. I would be very proud of myself if I could get this kind of work in the future, which can help the deceased be memorialized with dignity and comfort their families. Every person has a beautiful life, and I would be very proud to accompany the deceased on their last journey in the world."

Chen is among an increasing number of young Chinese people who are setting their career sights on civil service — especially in sectors such as marriage planning and services, rehabilitation and funeral services — as the nation's population continues to age and demand for higher-quality services increase.

Zhang Mengzhuo and Huang Jie, both freshmen majoring in marriage planning and services at the CCAU, said they've learned about marriage customs and traditions from different dynasties, as well as skills regarding consultations and counseling, and knowledge of marriage laws.

According to the university, 120 students have enrolled in its funeral services program since last year, while 70 have chosen the marriage planning and services major.

"The public has become more accepting of death and funeral services in recent decades, while the industry itself is still in urgent need of higher-quality professional talent," said Xu Xiaoling, vice-dean of the CCAU's life culture school.

The foundation of new disciplines and creative education ideas for undergraduate students epitomize the nation's efforts to produce more skilled talent for the civil service sector to tackle the significant aging population challenge and expand career possibilities for younger generations.

In late March, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security jointly released a notice to enhance the cultivation of highly skilled talent for civil service industries. The notice calls for an improved talent production mechanism with reasonable and scientific evaluation systems and a stable payment system by 2030. This is so that workers involved in the civil service sector can obtain higher professional competence and a greater sense of accomplishment.

Zhang Yuxing, an official from the civil affairs ministry, said at a recent news conference that workers taking civil service jobs such as nurses for the elderly and funeral directors are precious treasures to civil affairs authorities, while the number of workers, their education backgrounds and professional abilities need to be improved to meet the people's demands.

Zhang Yuyang contributed to this story.