Ludu Middle School, a junior high school in Taicang, East China's Jiangsu province, has launched a series of practical courses to allow local students to experience the working culture of German companies.

Taicang is one of the most popular destinations in China for German companies to set up open branches. Some 250 German companies have settled in Taicang and the city has become a magnet for German expats.

Ludu School has therefore arranged this optional course for grade 1 and 2 students, aged 13-15, to boost their employment prospects by getting a unique insight into the way German companies work.

Mr Martin from VAST China tells students at Ludu Middle School in Taicang, Jiangsu province about how his company is managed on Nov 11, 2016. [Photo/weibo: taicangfabu]

As part of this course, the school invited a manager from Vehicle Access Systems Technology China (VAST China), the Taicang subsidiary of a German auto parts supplier, Mr Martin, to introduce the students to his company on Nov 11.

Mr Martin talked about the technology in his company's products, and explained VAST China's core values, how the company is managed and what personal qualities the company looks for in its staff.

He also answered questions from the students, and spoke about his life in Taicang as an expat.

Ludu is also giving its students the chance to experience Taicang's German companies first-hand.

Students from Ludu Middle School pose for a group photo after visiting Schaeffler's branch in Taicang in May 2016. [Photo/weibo: taicangfabu]

In May 2016, the school organized a visit to the largest German company in Taicang: Schaeffler, one of the world's leading auto parts manufacturers.

The two-hour visit really sparked the students' curiosity in new technology, and they were very impressed by the German company's efficiency.

From August 2016, the school has also been working with Chinesische Schule Numberg e.V., a not-for-profit Chinese School in Germany, to arrange Sino-German cultural exchanges.