High-level Chinese IT managers are upgrading their tech skills at DCU and adjusting to the relaxed pace of Irish company life, writes Karlin Lillington

Reports of the demise of the centre for software engineering at Dublin City University turn out to have been greatly exaggerated.

The centre, which had reportedly closed its doors over half a year ago, instead quietly regrouped, with DCU academic Mr Michael O'Duffy coming in as chief executive and taking a personal stake in the venture.

And for the past six months, it has been full of a group of high-level Chinese information technology company managers, here to learn new methods of management and quality control, as well as to forge relationships with Irish companies and gain an insight into Western business and social culture.

"We have come to learn best practice in software \. The Irish software industry is very famous in the world, and the Chinese software industry is growing very rapidly, so we want to get information on your software industry, and second, to get contacts with Irish software companies and, hopefully, work together," says Mr John Mei, a manager with Chinese firm Supertech Data Systems.

The Chinese group is the first wave in what is expected to be an ongoing training relationship with China, after the Republic was selected as a "preferred supplier" of IT training by the Chinese government.

The designation came on the heels of work by the Irish Government to cement ties with the huge nation in recent years, especially during the time of the late-1990s technology boom.

For the Centre for Software Engineering, the arrangement is part of a drive to broaden its role and create sustaining partnerships. The centre, which employs about 30 people, was established in 1991 to assist the local software industry by providing high-level training and consultancy services and help promote best practice in software development, says Mr O'Duffy.

That remit hasn't changed much, he says. "The key service is to engage with individual companies and provide them with services that improve their capabilities."

Services could include anything from training classes, mentoring, assessment or co-operating on parts of an industrial project.

The difference now is that the centre is eager to provide such services to foreign as well as indigenous companies, an arrangement that potentially also benefits the indigenous industry by enabling it to form partnerships or trade agreements with the visitors.

Certainly, building relationships and perhaps partnering is high on the agenda of the visiting Chinese.

"My company has a branch in America, but not Europe. I think Ireland is a window into Europe," says Mr Mei, adding his company would be interested in an Irish partner.

"Our company has no office overseas, but we hope to set up such a department. We think this is a chance to find a partner," says Ms Eos Jinghui Li, a manager with HCC New Star Computer System Corporation.

By learning about and meeting Irish companies, "I can compare the different cultures and styles of companies and learn useful \ to bring to our company. In Ireland, I think the relationships between the company and employees can also be useful to our company, if we want to work with an Irish company."

The Chinese managers, all from very large and successful Chinese IT firms, say they have found learning about the human side of Irish company operations to be extremely useful - in some ways, even more so than their classroom exercises and projects.

Business relationships are not between companies but between people at companies, they say.

"The most important thing is making good relationships with companies - relationships with the human beings," says Mr James Wang, a manager with CVIC Software Engineering Company Ltd.

What has surprised them about company life in the Republic? "It's very relaxed," laughs Mr Wang. "Yes, Irish people are very relaxed," agrees Mr Mei, to more laughter.

"There is a different character between Ireland and China," says Ms Li. "In China people work very hard. We are also a developing country, so we must work very hard to catch up. All of us think that hard work can improve our lives, for everyone."

"But in Europe and Ireland, maybe this [relaxed way\] is the best way, to develop and to pay more attention to the human side," adds Mr Wang.

All say they are proud to work within China's IT industry, which has a high profile and is considered to be a very good sector for employment.

The Chinese government has committed massive funds to expanding and developing the sector because it sees it as central to China's future prosperity, says Mr O'Duffy.

"The Chinese government gives a lot of attention to IT," says Mr Mei. "It wants IT to lead the economy. It sees IT as the creator of the economy."

"So China is a very good place for European companies right now," laughs Ms Li.

The group, which is nearing the end of a six-month stint in Dublin, will be expected to return to their companies and give lectures on what they have learned while here, they say.

While they have enjoyed their time here, none has been back to China during their stay and there are many aspects of Chinese life they have missed, some more than others.

"Chinese food," they all say. "Chinese food and Chinese habits," says Ms Li.

What will they miss? "The beautiful Irish countryside," says Mr Wang.

"The Irish people," offers Mr Mei.

"Maybe Ireland and China are a long distance apart and many people in Ireland don't know about China," says Mr Wang.

"I think both countries should make more relationships and grow together."