When you cast your eyes on a map of China, Shandong is a place that will draw your attention. It is a land featuring "Mount Tai, the Yellow River, and Confucius", as well as heroes and beauties. In 2018, "Shandong Opportunity" and "Choosing Shandong" have become the consensus among a growing number of entrepreneurs at home and abroad. "You will be regretful if you miss Shandong", remarked Fu Jun, Board Chairman and President of Macrolink Group.

Why?

A host of Shandong-themed buzzwords emerged in 2018. Among them, the hottest one is "the replacement of old growth drivers". In 2018, the effort for the replacement of old growth drivers at a faster pace was the top priority for Shandong, as evidenced by a series of developments: the overall plan for the construction of the Comprehensive Pilot Zone for the Replacement of Old Growth Drivers was approved by the State Council; Liu Jiayi, Secretary of Shandong Provincial Committee, pointed out problems at the mobilization meeting for the major project of the replacement of old growth drivers in a comprehensive manner; changes and developments at the project launch meeting held in year-end; measures of inviting investment and attracting talents; and voting with feet on the part of entrepreneurs at home and abroad.

Compared with other regions, what are the advantages of Shandong in speeding up the replacement of old growth drivers? Here in Shandong, a consensus has shaped, namely, such an effort must be underpinned by quality economy, industrial restructuring, and a strong talent pool.

Today, Dazhong Daily published a highlighted article Moving Faster to Replace Old Growth Drivers in Shandong Through Talent Programs. The article elaborates on the best talent-oriented practices and measures of Shandong over the year in replacing old growth drivers.

The article expresses a clear-cut idea, "We should pursue talent-oriented development". In 2018, Shandong Province embraced exactly such a development strategy as it sought reform and innovation, attracted talents in a targeted manner, and kept improving its talent environment. As a result, new breakthroughs were made in talent-related works, boosting the effort for the replacement of old growth drivers.

First, top-level design is the basis. The "20 new talent policies", unveiled by the Shandong Provincial Committee and the People's Government of Shandong Province, is called as the "Version 2.0" of Shandong's talent policy. Together with previous policies, it has established an institutional framework for Shandong's talent works.

Under the guidance of these provincial talent policies, various cities and departments have released their supporting documents and targeted measures based on realities on the ground. Responding to the major project of the replacement of old growth drivers, Jinan City unveiled 35 enforcement regulations to attract and retain talents "across industrial chains". Qingdao has carried out five major projects, namely, gathering one million talents, offering incentives to innovation and start-ups, training future-oriented talents, attracting talents among the public, and providing guarantee for living and working. Yantai has embarked on various forms of programs to attract talents, further enhancing the leading roles of "Jinan, Qingdao, and Yantai".

Second, institutional innovations are being used to unleash talent dividend. Over the year, talent-oriented institutional innovations were rolled out one after another in Shandong: efforts were made to deepen post management reform in colleges and universities, and the share of senior posts was raised from 38% to 54%, thus expanding the career scope of teachers in institutions of higher learning; efforts were made to launch the reform of health professional title system to give liberty to health institutions for them to hire professionals and to health professionals for them to choose whether to participate in professional title evaluation or not, the pilot project for high-level professionals to participate in senior professional title evaluation directly, the pilot project for the career development of highly skilled professionals and engineering technicians, and the pilot project for the professional title evaluation of professional farmers.

The third is major talent-oriented programs. Actively dock with national key talent project, with a steady increase in the number of people selected for the national "Recruitment Program of Global Experts" and "National High-Level Talents Special Support Program". Centering on the development needs of the "Top 10" industries, the Taishan Talent Project has had its support scope adjusted. In particular, the support for Taishan Industry Leading Talent Project has all focused on the "Top 10" industries. During the year, 374 "high-quality top-notch" talents have been selected both at home and abroad. Driven by the demonstrative provincial talent projects, relevant cities, based on local advantageous industries and key enterprises, have also revolved around key tasks of old-new growth driver conversion to implement talent projects with their own characteristics. A range of characteristic talent projects have thus emerged, such as the Ji'nan Spring City 5150 Talent Introduction and Doubling Plan, the Zibo Talent Project, the Weifang Kite City Talent Project Series, and the Binzhou Bohai Talent Project. 

The year 2018 witnessed many academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, experts of the "Recruitment Program of Global Experts" and "National High-Level Talents Special Support Program", entrepreneurs, and various technical professionals and skilled talents settled down in Shandong.

For young people struggling to make a life in large cities, they are daunted at many difficulties and challenges, such as skyrocketing housing prices and living costs.

While it is hard to settle down in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, Shandong is opening its arm to welcome all kinds of talents. This year, adhering to the policy of gathering and retaining talents by relying on quality undertakings and services, Shandong has continuously created conditions and provided support for all kinds of talents to take part in the conversion of old and new growth drivers. It has also provided warmer talents services. The Regulations on Green Channels for High-level Talents Services in Shandong Province was promulgated, with 29 key service items clarified, 202 high-level talent service windows newly established, and "Shandong Huicai Card" issued to more than 3,800 high-level talents. A service commissioner system has been established to provide "one-on-one" and "nanny-style" services for qualified talents in terms of policy consultation, procedures and treatment implementation.

A new thinking model generates a new landscape. As social and economic development quickens, more and more second-tier and third-tier cities are providing much better job opportunities and urban environment enabled by sound economy. In Shandong, such cities are large in number.

On the land blessed with Mount Tai and seas and enjoying high-quality development, you can find exciting opportunities to show your talent, whether in Jinan, Qingdao, or other cities.

Welcome to Shandong.

Original text:

Over the year, Shandong has given strategic importance to talent-oriented development as it sought to pursue innovation and reform, attracted talents in a targeted manner, and kept improving its talent environment. As a result, new breakthroughs were made in talent-related works:

Moving faster to replace old growth drivers in Shandong through talent programs

As the year 2018 marked the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening up, Secretary Xi Jinping proposed a task for Shandong, namely "leading the works in two aspects and making comprehensive breakthroughs in one aspect". In 2018, the whole province engaged in the learning of the important guidelines of Secretary Xi Jinping made in his inspection to Shandong, in a way to accelerate the major project of the replacement of old growth drivers. Such a project must be underpinned by quality economy, industrial restructuring, and a strong talent pool. Over the year, Shandong has embraced a talent-oriented development strategy and seen talent as one of the three pillars supporting the project of the replacement of old growth drivers. It has pursued reform and innovation with determination, attracted talents in a targeted manner, and kept improving its talent environment. As a result, new breakthroughs were made in talent-related works, thus boosting the effort for the replacement of old growth drivers.

Working out top-level design and strengthening macro guidance.

Pushing for the work of the replacement of old growth drivers with joint efforts

This year, with a full understanding of talent-driven development, Shandong has prioritized the talent-enabled work of the replacement of old growth drivers. Centering on this task, it has made research and planning to push for the work. As such, its talent works have become more focused and measures more improved, thus generating strong synergy.

The "20 new talent policies" has set up a framework for this effort. To make talents better serve the work of the replacement of old growth drivers, the Shandong Provincial Committee and the People's Government of Shandong Province have issued the Opinions on Making Talents Better Serve the Work of the Replacement of Old Growth Drivers. The document proposes 20 practical measures from 7 aspects, such as implementing more targeted talent projects, establishing more open and flexible mechanism to attract and use talents, and putting in place a more practical and effective talent training and development model, thus forming well-integrated measures. If the Implementation Opinions on Deepening the Reform of Talent Development System and Mechanism issued in 2016 by Shandong Province can be seen as the Version 1.0 of the province's talent policy, then the "20 new talent policies" featured in 2018 is new upgrade of the province's talent policy. Together the two documents have built an institutional framework guiding talent development.

All cities and departments have worked together in this effort. Under the role model and guidance of these provincial talent policies, various cities and departments has released their own supporting documents and targeted measures based on realities on the ground, thereby establishing a "2+N" system of talent policy covering the whole province. Responding to the major project of the replacement of old growth drivers, Jinan City unveiled 35 enforcement regulations to attract and retain talents "across industrial chains". Qingdao has carried out five major projects, namely, gathering one million talents, offering incentives to innovation and start-ups, training future-oriented talents, attracting talents among the public, and providing guarantee for living and working. Yantai has embarked on various forms of programs to attract talents, further enhancing the leading roles of "Jinan, Qingdao, and Yantai". Provincial finance departments have funded heavily on talent programs, a rise of 10.73% year-on-year. The Department of Science & Technology of Shandong Province and the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Shandong Province have formulated special policies to support young talents for innovation and start-up, seeking to train strategic talents for long-term development. The Department of Education of Shandong Province has carried out the "Plan for the priority development of emerging engineering industries". According to the Plan, 20 projects of 13 colleges and universities were identified as among the first "emerging engineering majors" research and practice projects of the Ministry of Education, seeking to make the task of replacing old growth drivers as a unified action of the whole province's talent works.

Talent-oriented working teams were set up to offer guidance. In order to launch the talent-powered task of replacing old growth drivers, Shandong has streamlined working mechanism and set up working teams for this effort. Key works were broken down into 472 phased objectives of 57 major tasks, and monthly scheduling has been made. As of the end of 2018, 43 of the 57 major tasks have been fulfilled. Sustained efforts have been made to ensure full implementation, and special inspection was launched to exam the implementation of major talent policies. Through self-inspection, questionnaire interview, field investigation, individual interview, and other channels, 15 typical problems of 8 aspects were included in the supervision agenda. Further efforts were made for rectification. As such, policy implementation channels were integrated, and solid progress has been made in each link of the talent-powered task of replacing old growth drivers.

Deepening talent reform and pushing for institutional innovation

Boosting the effort of replacing old growth drivers by talent innovation and creation

Over the year, Shandong has centered on the major task of replacing old growth drivers, and approached its talent reform from a national and even global vision. It has kept optimizing resource allocation and pursued institutional innovation. In this way, it has further removed the structural and institutional obstacles hindering talent development, and built a more active, open and effective institutional system.

Great emphasis has been put on the implementation of major reform programs. The province has worked to deepen the reform of talent development mechanism and system, and focused on key tasks, delivering 45 of the 46 tasks identified by provincial departments. As for funds management of research projects, Shandong has carried out a distribution policy aiming to increase knowledge value, a reform for the going-abroad on business of teachers and researchers, and other highlighted reform programs. It has further clarified operation procedures and refined working measures, with a host of problems drawing response or resolved. Efforts have been made to encourage innovation at grassroots level. Jinan City, the West Coast New Area of Qingdao, Jining City, Lubei of Dezhou City, and other provincial reform pilot zones are witnessing better development.

A series of best practices have been explored; provincial and municipal departments are working together to build Qingdao International Academician Park, where 108 academicians have settled down and 32 academician projects have been launched; Shandong Industrial Technology Research Institute was founded. All these talent innovation and start-up platforms featuring new concepts have been materialized, well-poised to better serve the efforts of replacing old growth drivers.

Efforts have been made to integrate different works for higher efficiency. To solve the problem of "fragmented" talent works, great efforts have been made to integrate talent policies, talent projects, working resources for attracting talents, capital for talent development, talent information management, and talent contact services. Shandong has instituted a system to release the list of talent policies. From the 90-plus provincial policy documents, 133 substantial policies were chosen to establish a policy list for collective release. Overall efforts have been made to manage talent development funds. Fund projects related to talent selection, talent management service, and other aspects were pooled together, realizing the practice of "unified application, unified examination, unified allocation, and unified inspection". Efforts have been made to co-build and share talent management information; overall efforts have been made to build "one database and one platform", so as to integrate talent information and make talent management more pro-science and digital. Efforts have been made to establish systems and regulations, and make these systems and regulations more normative. Unified efforts were made for systematic planning. Talent works of the whole province were integrated to unleash greater dynamism, thus further enhancing the whole efficiency of talent works.

Institutional innovations were pursued to unleash talent dividend. In order to shore up weak links and solidify foundation, Shandong has made proactive efforts to choose advanced regions as role models. It has launched institutional innovation to "build first-class environment, introduce top-notch talents, and give full play to the primary role of talents". Focusing on the key fields of replacing old growth drivers, Shandong has made major breakthroughs in fast talent introduction, young talent training, talent assessment reform, and streamlining administration and instituting decentralization, thus enhancing the competitiveness of its talent policies in a sustained way. Efforts were made to deepen post management reform in colleges and universities, and the share of senior posts was raised from 38% to 54%, thus expanding the career scope of teachers in institutions of higher learning. A staff rotation system for the staffing of government affiliated institutions was introduced to make better use of existing talents and optimize increased talents, and to build a flexible talent pool. A pilot program was carried out to reform professional manager system to make it flexible for talents around their career ladder, as well as their incomes. Efforts were made to launch the reform of health professional title system to give liberty to health institutions for them to hire professionals and to health professionals for them to choose whether to participate in professional title evaluation or not, the pilot project for high-level professionals to participate in senior professional title evaluation directly, the pilot project for the career development of highly skilled professionals and engineering technicians, and the pilot project for the professional title evaluation of professional farmers. There are many such innovation measures, which have improved institutional system and benefited employers and talents in engaging in major projects and pursuing innovation and start-up.

Giving priority to "Top 10 industries" and making targeted efforts to attract talents for key areas of replacing old growth drivers

In the year 2018, Shandong has focused on the "Top 10 industries" for the replacement of old growth drivers. Following a practical and effectiveness-oriented approach, the province has worked to bring talents across the globe while also valuing talent training, both at home and abroad. It has made sustained efforts to optimize and enhance talent programs, improve talent attraction models, and bring more "high-quality top-notch" talents to realize better economic and social development.

Greater efforts have been made in major talent-oriented programs. Actively dock with national key talent project, with a steady increase in the number of people selected for the national "Recruitment Program of Global Experts" and "National High-Level Talents Special Support Program". Centering on the development needs of the "Top 10" industries, the Taishan Talent Project has had its support scope adjusted. In particular, the support for Taishan Industry Leading Talent Project has all focused on the "Top 10" industries. During the year, 374 "high-quality top-notch" talents have been selected both at home and abroad to lead 440 key generic technology R&D projects, enabling the implementation of 182 high-tech industrial projects of various kinds. Once those projects reach their production capacity, their annual sales revenue is expected to increase by RMB 46 billion. Driven by the demonstrative provincial talent projects, relevant cities, based on local advantageous industries and key enterprises, have also revolved around key tasks of old-new growth driver conversion to implement talent projects with their own characteristics. A range of characteristic talent projects have thus emerged, such as the Ji'nan Spring City 5150 Talent Introduction and Doubling Plan, the Zibo Talent Project, the Weifang Kite City Talent Project Series, and the Binzhou Bohai Talent Project. The provincial and municipal engineering systems have been further improved, and a favorable situation for competitive development has been formed.

Strive to cultivate a characteristic brand of talent introduction. We have firmly grasped the goal and demand of talent introduction, kept exploring and perfecting our work path, improved the work mode, and created a number of nationwide influential work brands. Aiming at the key direction of old-new growth driver conversion, we have deepened the talent introduction work on a "case-by-case" basis and intensified the introduction of top talent teams, and successively introduced 17 top talents. We have also deepened the talent introduction work of the "Join Us in Qilu" (Qilu Zhiyue), organized employers to bring in talents overseas, and supported qualified candidates through key provincial-level talent projects. The first "Entrepreneurial Qilu·Win-Win Future" High-Level Talent Entrepreneurship Competition was held, with 66 entrepreneurial talents selected. Their enterprises had combined registered capital of RMB 1.6 billion, stimulated social investment of RMB 7.7 billion, and created more than 4,800 new jobs. We have strengthened the flexible talent introduction, supported employers in setting up front-end incubation bases and offshore research centers outside the country (territory), and set up the first 10 expert workstations of "Recruitment Program of Global Experts" to attract "special talents" by "special means" to advance Shandong's innovation and development.

Continuously expand the influence of talent introduction activities. Taking advantage of the SCO Qingdao Summit, Shandong has launched various promotional activities. The promotion by the Blue Room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC has sent a strong signal to the world, i.e. "new growth driver, new Shandong, and win-win situation with the world"; and its event "gathering the world's talents and drawing a grand picture of Shandong" has produced strong repercussions both at home and abroad. The first Conference of Great Business Partners was held to promote the development environment of Shandong Province. And a total of 1, 096 distinguished guests, including four Nobel Prize winners, 24 academicians both at home and abroad, and 11 decision-making persons from famous universities, were invited to attend the conference. The 10th International and Domestic High-level Talent Exchange Meeting was held in Shandong, China, with 858 guests from 33 countries and regions participating in it, and more than 3,000 talent projects successfully paired. The first Taishan International Forum for Young Scholars was held, attracting 407 outstanding young scholars from China and abroad, and 53 seminars for academic exchanges were held, helping 28 universities to bring in 203 talents. "Shandong Opportunity" and "Choosing Shandong" were frequently mentioned by major media outlets, attracting more and more excellent talents both at home and abroad.

Highlighting grass-roots orientation and strengthening overall planning and coordination

Promoting the conversion of new and old growth driver and balanced development of talents in various fields

This year, Shandong has deeply grasped the law of talent development, persisted in "attaching more importance to the grass-roots level, laying the foundation, grasping the overall planning and cohesion"; kept introducing more favorable policies, funds and resources to the grass-roots level; and coordinated the cultivation of talent teams to support the conversion of old and new growth driver and the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy with a steady stream of talents.

Strengthen the talent support for grass-roots development. Focusing on tackling problems such as failure to introduce, retain and leverage talents, the government has formulated and issued special policies to support the construction of talent teams in grass-roots agricultural technology extension and grass-roots health, to expand the development space of grass-roots talents from the aspects of institutional setting, talent cultivation and incentive guarantee. We have deepened the selection and dispatch of deputy scientific and technological officials, raised the criteria for selection and dispatch, expanded the scale of selection and dispatch, and guided the selection and dispatch of deputy town chief for scientific and technological work. More than 700 high-level talents have been assigned with a temporary post in counties and townships. We have deepened the introduction of urgently needed talents in key supporting regions, supported 100 selected projects with nearly RMB 100 million fund, revised and improved management methods, and enhanced the effectiveness of project implementation. We have actively promoted the "two-way flow" of professional and technical talents, assigning 1,182 teachers, scientists and technicians, medical workers and cultural workers to serve at the grass-roots level, and 160 young and middle-aged core talents at the grass-roots level to relevant provincial departments for short-term advanced study & research. Municipalities have also strengthened training, special introduction, partner assistance and other ways to extend the reach of talent work, and to help train and reserve talents at the grass-roots level, thus effectively ensuring that the conversion of old and new growth driver is practiced at the grass-roots level.

Coordinate the construction of talent teams in various fields. We have deeply implemented the Qilu series talent projects, and selected 20 Qilu cultural masters, 150 Qilu chief technicians, 106 Qilu public security talents, 150 Qilu harmonious messengers, 76 Qilu health talents and 148 Qilu financial elites. All departments in charge have also explored specific measures to support the development of professional and technical talents revolving around the conversion of new and old growth driver. The Provincial Department of Finance has kept enhancing the capability of international certified public accountants, and trained and reserved 100 high-end international talents. The Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism has set up a think tank for the development of cultural and creative industries by selecting experts in the development of cultural and creative industries nationwide. The Provincial Bureau of Statistics has implemented a training project for statistical talents cultivation at the grass-roots level and has carried out relevant follow-up trainings. The Provincial Local Financial Supervision Bureau has carefully implemented the Financial Talent Selection and Award Program and conducted training for multi-level financial talents, and sent 80 senior executives of financial institutions to the United Kingdom for training. A well-structured team of talents with excellent expertise and pioneering & innovative spirit is rapidly gathering on the new journey of old and new growth driver conversion.

Improving service quality and creating a dense atmosphere

Creating a talent development environment to enable the conversion of old and new growth driver 

This year, adhering to the policy of gathering and retaining talents by relying on quality undertakings and services, Shandong has deepened the "once-for-all" reform in the field of talents, further expanded the quality and level of talents service, and continuously created conditions and provided support for all kinds of talents to take part in the conversion of old and new growth drivers.

Provide warmer talents services. The Regulations on Green Channels for High-level Talents Services in Shandong Province was promulgated, with 29 key service items clarified, 202 high-level talent service windows newly established, and "Shandong Huicai Card" issued to more than 3,800 high-level talents. A service commissioner system has been established to provide "one-on-one" and "nanny-style" services for qualified talents in terms of policy consultation, procedures and treatment implementation. We have strengthened the supply of high-end services for foreign talents, implemented projects such as international special outpatient clinics and international medical centers, built international schools and communities, and created a quasi-overseas environment. Focusing on talent innovation and entrepreneurial financial support, we have coordinated financial institutions to open "talent loan" business, and promoted Qilu equity trading center to establish a "high-end talent board". The "12345 Talent Service Line" was opened to meet various demands of talents in real time… This year, Shandong has regarded talents as "guests of honor", actively engaged in talents services, and insisted on meeting the demand of talents. The government has actively responded to the demand, and strived to provide stronger support for all kinds of talents innovation and entrepreneurship. The talent development environment of Shandong Province has been more and more recognized and praised.

Create a stronger social atmosphere. Officials of all levels in the province have earnestly implemented the system of contact service experts of Party Committees. The main leaders of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government have taken the lead in visiting the academicians contacted, and listened to their opinions and suggestions in person. Showing concerns for talents, and attaching importance to talents have become a unified consensus of the whole province. We have carried out the campaign of "carrying forward the spirit of patriotic struggle and making contributions to the cause of a new era", given full play to the resource advantages of Yimeng Party Spirit Education Base and Jining Cadres Political Morality Education Base, extensively carried out research and training for the talents on the conditions of the province and the country, and vigorously carried forward the spirit of patriotic dedication, the style of hard work and "seeking truth from facts". The Qilu Outstanding Talent Award, the highest award in Shandong Province, will select the first batch of winners. Winners will receive an award of RMB 3 million and award nominees will receive RMB 500,000 to truly reap fame and fortune for experts who have made outstanding contributions. Qilu Craftsmen Construction Project has been implemented, and has selected 10 Qilu Great Craftsmen and 40 Qilu Craftsmen, starting a fashion for respecting labor, advocating skills and encouraging innovation in the whole society.

2019 marks a key year for Shandong to push forward the conversion of old and new growth driver. The province will target this important task for talent work. With a broader vision, a more high-spirited attitude and more practical measures, we will create a more competitive talent development environment, vigorously gather outstanding talents who are patriotic and dedicated, and strive to provide strong talent support for the economic and social development of the province.