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Shortly after the Lunar New Year in 2026, most people left their hometowns to head off into the distance. For master’s graduate Liu Xingtang, his commute led him to Haisheng Biology Company at the Shandong Lubei Group, which is located not far from his home. A year ago in spring, this master’s graduate in chemical-biological interdisciplinary studies from Yunnan University declined an offer from a well-known institution in Chengdu and chose to return to her hometown to work on the front lines of chemical production. At Lubei Group, young people with high educational qualifications like Liu Xingtang are not an exception. In 2025 alone, this **ecological industrial demonstration park – the only one of its kind in the country to have been approved on an enterprise basis – brought in 15 master’s degree holders, 83 bachelor’s degree graduates, and 177 professionals with associate degrees. “\"Reverse\" selection: More than just nostalgia, there’s also a career aspect. Liu Xingtang admits that convenient commuting, affordable living costs, and the ability to take care of one’s parents nearby are the main factors that attract him. But what ultimately convinced him was the clear vision of his career prospects. “During the interview, the company provided detailed information on its plans for the green chemicals and high-end aluminum chemicals sectors, which are exactly my area of expertise. ”Liu Xingtang said, “I feel that what I learn here isn’t just theoretical knowledge; it allows me to directly participate in the innovation of the industrial chain.” ”Lubei Group regards talent development as a top-priority initiative, and has established a comprehensive policy framework covering recruitment, training, retention, and utilization. Newly recruited college graduates have clear career advancement paths: undergraduates in relevant fields can receive the status of team leader after one year of employment, advance to the position of deputy director after three years, and have the potential to hold a senior position in the workshop or department after five years. “We attract talent not just through a sense of belonging to the local community, but also through career platforms that allow them to showcase their talents. ”A relevant person in charge of Lubei Group said. The artisan’s furnace: from the academic approach to the versatile practitioner. The transition from theoretical research in laboratories to complex production systems in factories is not easy. The training and dispatch center built by Lubei Group at a cost of nearly 100 million yuan has become a \"furnace\" for the rapid development of people like Liu Xingtang. Entering this 15,000-square-meter \"Craftsman Academy,\" one finds chemical processing simulation systems and precision testing equipment of all kinds, perfectly replicating the conditions found in actual production environments. The chemical engineering simulation system in the training center can simulate more than 20 typical operating conditions, such as abnormal fluctuations in distillation columns and loss of control over the temperature in reaction vessels. New employees must complete all emergency response drills on the simulation system; only after passing the assessment can they assume production duties. “The training is fully aligned with real-world scenarios. On the simulation operating system, process parameter fluctuations and emergency response to failures can be practiced repeatedly, with safety protocols ingrained in muscle memory. ”Liu Xingtang said. After starting work, he underwent rotational training in various workshops at Haisheng Biology. The settling workshop monitors solid-liquid separation, the decomposition workshop focuses on the separation process, and the calcination workshop oversees the calcination of clinker. At each processing step, he recorded the on-site data and compared it one by one with the standard values listed on the process cards. “Process optimization often relies on trial and error, but data can help us find the right direction more quickly. ”Liu Xingtang said. This is precisely the key to the “Yumu” project in northern Shandong. The group has established a career progression path from \"Lubei Master Craftsmen\" to \"Qilu Chief Technicians\", and fosters skill development through skill competitions and practical training on innovative projects. To date, the group has trained over 400 mid-to-senior level technicians; 101 of them have been recognized as model workers and craftsmen at various levels, and more than a hundred have risen from frontline positions to become middle-level or higher management officials. Green Stage: Integrating personal value into one’s own growth; only by keeping pace with the trends of the times and corporate development can one unleash their greatest potential. What makes Liu Xingtang proud is that he is personally experiencing and participating in the green transformation of Lubei Group. The green and intelligent upgrades that Lubei Group is continuously pursuing, such as waste heat recovery, maglev technology, and digital production systems, provide young technical professionals with a broad platform to transform their expertise into green productivity. In the production process where Liu Xingtang works, energy consumption targets are broken down at various levels to individual teams, and optimizations of process parameters are directly reflected in the energy consumption data. “I feel a great sense of achievement when I see the process optimization suggestions I worked on being adopted, which actually improves resource utilization and reduces energy consumption. ”Liu Xingtang said that transforming professional capabilities into tangible green benefits is both a challenge and an opportunity. “There is no hustle and bustle of a first-tier city, but here one can enjoy a stable and reliable life as well as clear paths for growth. Most importantly, it is possible to witness firsthand and contribute to the transformation of one’s hometown’s industries toward being more sustainable and advanced. ”Liu Xingtang said. A way out of the crisis: The systematic talent ecosystem and the “migration” of people like Liu Xingtang reflect a deeper change. For a long time, the dilemma faced by county-level regions and traditional manufacturing industries—namely, their inability to attract and retain highly educated and skilled talents—is now being resolved through a new model. The practices of Lubei Group show that overcoming challenges requires establishing a business framework based on clear industrial planning and development prospects, creating a cultivation system through substantial investment and customized designs, and fostering an environment of belonging through supportive policies and care. Ultimately, enable talents not only to return, but also to take root, grow, and thrive. This systematic talent ecosystem of \"nesting, nurturing talent, and building a community of experts\" not only ensures that over 90% of the skilled workers at Lubei Group are highly qualified professionals, but it also attracts more and more people like Liu Xingtang to give up the opportunities available in other places and choose to develop their skills in their hometown, growing alongside the times and the company.