Ambow Launches LCSE Program for Lenovo in China

BEIJING, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Ambow Education Group (NYSE: AMBO) today announced that it has finalized an agreement with Lenovo, the world renowned PC manufacturer, to be its Authorized Personnel Training Practice Base in China. The company will provide an accreditation program for LCSEs (Lenovo Certified Service Engineers) for both Lenovo and its affiliated companies' customer service centers throughout the country.

Under the agreement, Ambow will launch the accreditation program through its training centers, incorporating the hard skills content from Lenovo's training materials with Ambow's specialized soft skills element with a focus on the newly developed CCEP (Career Competence Enhancement Program) materials in particular.

Each of the program's trainees, who are primarily new university graduates, will be trained for two and a half months, and will subsequently be recruited by Lenovo or an affiliated company upon successful completion of the program. Employment with Lenovo will see successful trainees deployed to one of Lenovo's and affiliated companies' many customer service centers across the country. It is estimated that Lenovo and its affiliates will need an additional 3,000 to 5,000 LCSEs each year for the foreseeable future.

Ambow is the only privately owned education provider to be authorized by Lenovo to provide the accreditation program.

The program underscores a new model for Ambow, whereby enterprises are choosing to outsource the training of their potential employees with secured job placements when the course is successfully completed. In this respect, the trainees are also aware of the company they may prospectively work for, and therefore have access to more relevant information that allows them to clearly understand the background of their employer when they sign up for the program after the initial screening by the potential employer.

Ms. Gu Yisi, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Ambow, said this type of cooperation clearly sets an exemplary precedent for other enterprises, as it saves cost for employers but also guarantees quality recruits.

"Ambow has been the pioneer in providing a platform that aims to balance students' skills with the needs of prospective employers; this latest effort highlights the additional steps that have been undertaken by employers to secure the right candidate for the job," she said. "From the trainee's perspective, it offers a much more secure channel to obtaining a promising job."

"Our role as a bridge is growing in terms of both strength and opportunity."

Ambow has also been the authorized provider of accredited programs by a number of international IT companies such as CISCO and Microsoft. Trainees in these programs are usually currently employed personnel who would like to enhance their capabilities in their respective areas.

Ambow's CCEP is a college credit course developed together with the Ministry of Education. It has an advanced career enhancement curriculum, focusing on soft skills training, including modules on vital career skills such as innovation, time management, effective communication, and workplace etiquette.

About Ambow Education Holding Ltd.

Ambow Education Holding Ltd. (NYSE: AMBO) is a leading national provider of educational and career enhancement services in China, offering high-quality, individualized services and products. Ambow has two business divisions: "Better Schools," which includes K-12 schools and tutoring centers; and "Better Jobs," which includes colleges and career enhancement centers.

With its extensive network of regional service hubs complemented by a dynamic proprietary learning platform and distributors, Ambow provides its services and products to students in 30 out of the 31 provinces and autonomous regions within China.

Forward Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release, including statements regarding the number of to-be-recruited LCSEs and Ambow's growing role as a bridge between trainees and employers, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that actual events and results could differ materially from these statements as a result of a variety of factors, including any changes in government policies, laws and regulations, competition and economic conditions. Investors also should consider the information contained in Ambow's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could cause actual events and results to differ materially. In light of these risks, uncertainties and factors, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Ambow disclaims any obligation to update information contained in forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Ambow Education Holding Ltd.