“Many migrant workers in Shenzhen would return home after working here for a couple of years. If they persist, things would be different. They might become skilled technicians, earning more than ordinary workers.”

— said Zhou Feng, who went from migrant worker to a State-subsidized technician through persistent study.

 Helen Deng

    IN early September, a grand awards ceremony was held at five-star hotel Wuzhou Guest House. At the ceremony, the city government awarded 56 Shenzheners who won special subsidies from the State Council or the municipal government.

    In his bright green T-shirt, Zhou Feng stood out in a roomful of scholars and specialists wearing shirts and ties. But his clothes were not the only thing that made him stand out. While many people at the awarding ceremony were renowned scientists with doctorates, Zhou holds only a high school diploma.

    Although the State Council subsidy was only 20,000 yuan (US$3,130) per person, it represented a great honor, because it was only given to people who were highly respected in their fields and had made long-term contributions to society, said Wang Min, director general of the city’s human resources and social security bureaus.

    Zhou, 44, was the only technician in Shenzhen to have won the State Council special subsidy for the years 2009-2010. When asked about winning the same award as such illustrious figures as Wang Zhaokai, academician of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, Zhou said he was “not surprised.”

    “Actually many of my friends are qualified for the honor, but for various reasons they did not apply,” said Zhou, with a modest smile, when interviewed by a group of journalists.

    Like most Shenzheners, Zhou Feng was not born here. He came to Shenzhen in 1990 with his then employer, Zhejiang-based Weixing Co., which manufactures buttons. He started as a production line worker, and four years later, he decided to study toward becoming an electrician.

    Zhou said he was lucky to be in a company where workers were encouraged to learn. “My boss would refund almost all of my book purchases. For books bought for less than 1,000 yuan, I even didn’t need to report,” recalled Zhou.

    Zhou said he attended a lot of training programs provided by the city government and technical schools. “This city provides incomparable training programs and facilities for workers,” said Zhou. His diligent study paid off. In 1997, he won an award at the city’s first electricians competition. In 2004, he won the title of “Shenzhen model technician.” In the same year, he won a special subsidy from the city government. He has won four patents and is applying for another four.

    Zhou is now the chief engineer of Shenzhen Kangcan Technology Co. Ltd., a company with more than 20 employees specializing in energy efficient products. His products saved 76 million Kwh electricity as of August 2011, saving about 13 million yuan for customers annually.

    Zhou Feng is a workaholic. Asked how many hours he worked a day, he said: “I’m always prepared to work.” Whilst working on one project for China Mobile, he stayed in the machine room for 72 hours, eating take-away and sleeping on the floor.

    But Zhou enjoys his work. “I enjoy reading, learning about new technology, and then applying it to my job.”

    “If I don’t understand a technical problem, I put it aside for several days. After reading up and asking questions, I usually come to understand it. It is a great feeling,” he said.

    Zhou teaches part-time at several technical schools in Shenzhen and has trained more than 500 technicians. “It’s a pity that I don’t know the names of all my students, but when at work I often meet people who claim to have been my student, even though I barely recognize them,” said Zhou.

    Zhou co-compiled a textbook for Shenzhen technicians about the application of PLC variable-frequency drive and touch screens. The book, first published in 2006 by China Machine Press, has been reprinted several times.

    “Many of my students are better than those who have studied engineering at university because they have more hands on experience,” said Zhou, adding that one of his students had once beaten a qualified engineer in applying for a job. “The student designed a product in 45 days and was immediately hired. The engineer, who failed to design the product after trying for six months, was deemed inadequate,” he said.

    Zhou said employers often prefer experienced technicians to university graduates, because technicians have had a lot of opportunities to use machines.

    Zhou Feng said he was a quiet person so his job suited his personality. But he was not a born technician. He said he was not especially talented in science or handicrafts when he was a child. He was not academic at all, therefore he never got beyong high school.

    “Weixing Co. sent recruiters to my school, and I was selected. It was that simple,” said Zhou with a smile. The key to his success, Zhou said, was persistence. “Many migrant workers in Shenzhen would return home after working here for a couple of years. If they persist, things would be different. They might become skilled technicians, earning more than ordinary workers,” he said.

    Technicians are gaining increasing payment and respect, Zhou said, adding that his son was studying at a technical school. “My advice to him is, practice makes perfect!” he said.