Charoen pokphand woos Chinese business students

The group is recruiting students from top universities in Shanghai to further their studies at its own CP Corporate University.

The company's Lotus Supercentre is expanding fast in China and desperately needs staff with expertise in retailing.

More than 300 fourth-year students from seven leading universities in Shanghai will be recruited to study a special retail curriculum.

The one-year course focuses on management and training. Graduates will be recruited by Lotus Supercentre.

Somsak Hongsrichinda, the company university's president, said the group wanted to increase the talent pool with expertise in retail to feed the company's expansion.

There are now 76 Lotus centres in China.

Group chairman Dhanin Chearavanont came up with the idea of a special school when the company experienced staff shortage a few years ago.

In the beginning it was a small "co-op project" to train mangers. About 50 Shanghai university students applied, and 16 passed.

Somsak said the university had a new curriculum for middle management.

"It is part of the CP Group's initiative to encourage young management to serve its business expansion both in Thailand and abroad through its 'Future Leaders' concept," Somsak said.