Relocating to China offers huge opportunities, but navigating the nuances of Chinese culture and learning professional dynamics there can be a challenge. Getting the right training to wise up on those points makes all the difference. A well-designed training program will immensely benefit any expats sent to China by focusing on the complexities of the move. This article can be a valuable resource for HR professionals, expats, and their families searching for the best training providers.

Criteria for Selection

When looking for a qualified training provider, one should take a look at various factors, such as their expertise, program diversity and/or specialization, the companies’ reputation within the market, the accessibility of the trainings offered, and each company’s Unique Selling Points (USP).

Expertise

It is always advisable to prioritize choosing providers with proven success records, specialized trainers, and experience working with multinational companies. Depending on your own or your company’s needs, a smaller provider may fit the bill better than a global player, or vice versa.

Program Diversity

Each decision will hinge on what exact requirements you or your company’s expats have, but it is recommended to look for providers that offer the training types that are most relevant for you. Such as cultural acclimatization for expat families, business etiquette for those who will work in China, language skills focused on their requirements – adapted to children, office dwellers, non-working partners – or family-focused coaching.

Reputation

When making a choice, check testimonials, client portfolios, and possibly industry awards to assess credibility. Bonus points if someone from your own network can inform you about a provider because they have had personal experiences working with them!

Accessibility

Depending on where you (or the expats your company is sending) are located, check for the flexibility in training modes offered. Are the trainings and coaching sessions available online? Offline? And if offline, are they offered in major Chinese cities, where your China subsidiary is located, or in international locations?

Unique Selling Points

The overview below will discuss how each provider stands out from the crowd. That could be innovative workshops, personalized coaching, or niche services for specific group.

The list below is not meant to be a ranking, but a comparative overview of different providers. Which of these is right for you remains to be determined based on your (or your expats’) requirements.

10 Great China Expat Training Providers

So here, in alphabetical order, are 10 great expat training providers for China.

Aperian (www.aperian.com)

What does the company offer?

Cross-cultural training and learning content that creates meaningful collaboration, stronger teams, and greater innovation.

What are their key programs?

• Live Training & Training Modules: On- and offline training for cross-cultural insights and improving collaboration.

• Global Mobility: Targeted support both pre- and post-assignment to equip assignees and their families with the tools they need for a meaningful international experience.

• Inclusive Behaviors Inventory: Helps identify personal and organizational inclusion gaps and receive next steps to evolve behaviors.

Where do they offer services and for whom?

Both self-paced online learning and live online trainings and coaching. Serving companies all over the world.

China Expat Spouse (www.chinaexpatspouse.com)

What does the company offer?

Tailored programs for expat spouses to ensure smoother transitions for families.

What are their key programs?

• Ready for China Workshops: Prepares families for cultural and logistical challenges.

• Transition Coaching: Individual and group formats focusing on mental well-being and adaptation.

Where do they offer services and for whom?

Online, and on-site in China and Germany. For companies with expat families sent to China.

What makes them unique?

Dedicated focus on the accompanying spouse, a critical but often overlooked aspect of expat success. Highly specialized for the Chinese market.

Crossculture Academy (www.crossculture-academy.com)

What does the company offer?

Country-specific training, coaching, and eLearning from pre-departure preparation to a successful repatriation.

What are their key programs?

• Relocation Training: Helps overcome cultural barriers and provides international assignees and their families with optimal preparation for assignments abroad.

• Building Cross-Cultural Competence: Identifies and bridges cultural differences to make collaboration with international partners smoother and more productive.

• eLearning Courses: Enable the development of intercultural competence whenever and wherever it suits students.

Where do they offer services and for whom?

Based in Germany, they offer on- and offline trainings and eLearning resources to companies with international assignees and to interested individuals.

What makes them unique?

They offer tailored training, experienced experts, and comprehensive support to their clients from preparation to return to the assignee’s home country.

C3 Consulting (www.c3consulting.dk)

What does the company offer?

Training for executives, managers and employees, teams and entire organizations to communicate and collaborate globally.

What are their key programs?

• Country-specific cultural training: Optimizes collaboration with global colleagues and business partners, minimizes misunderstandings, maximizes value.

• Intercultural executive coaching: Individual coaching, advice and counseling to ensure that executives, leaders or project managers in a global setting reach their goals.

• Global Steps: Online learning program to enhance students’ global skills in a flexible and cost-effective way.

Where do they offer services and for whom?

Both self-paced online learning and live online trainings and coaching. Based out of Denmark, serving companies all over the world.

What makes them unique?

Customize all training programs so that they match their clients’ company and employee needs 100%.

Eidam & Partner (www.eidam-und-partner.de)

What does the company offer?

Intercultural and expatriation expertise to optimize performance in international environments.

What are their key programs?

• Cross-Cultural Training: Offers country-specific, transnational, or Germany training, international team-building, and virtual international teams specializations.

• Cross-Cultural Coaching: Tailored to clients' needs and led by experts who have worked abroad for several years.

• International Assignment Programs: Include support for spouses, and children, safety training, as well as repatriation support.

Where do they offer services and for whom?

If on-site, then in various European countries, online options available. For companies with mobile employees across many locations.

What makes them unique?

20 years experience, with 200 partners world-wide. Based out of Germany, they offer options for companies heading to that country.

Executive Communications Education Centre (www.ecgroup.com.hk)

What does the company offer?

Chinese and English language courses, and soft skills trainings.

What are their key programs?

• Programs for Expats: Mandarin and Cantonese language courses, relocation and cross-cultural programs.

• Language Courseware: Different textbooks and customized or tailor-made curriculums, tailor-made corporate eLearning courseware.

• Other Language Resources: From customer service hotline recordings or voice overs to translation, interpretation, and copywriting services.

Where do they offer services and for whom?

Based in Hongkong, both onsite and online solutions. Targeting corporates, expats, locals, and Mandarin speakers.

What makes them unique?

Strong focus on language learning and other language services, but with an offering of cross-cultural courses as well.

Expat Communication (www.expatcommunication.com)

What does the company offer?

Intercultural and expatriation expertise to optimize performance in international environments.

What are their key programs?

• Expat Programs: Offer courses in intercultural management and international mobility.

• Expat Lab: Analyzes the evolutions of international mobility and shares results with companies through research, publications, and conferences.

• International Executive Programs: Give tailor-made support in intercultural management.

Where do they offer services and for whom?

On-site mostly in France, online options available. For companies with mobile employees across many locations.

What makes them unique?

Their Expat Barometer gives ideas about the environment of a certain expatriation location. Organize conferences and training with a coaching approach.

Global Connection (www.global-connection.info)

What does the company offer?

Media, personalized support and networking for expat spouses worldwide.

What are their key programs?

• Media: Offers a knowledge hub of digital and print resources for spouses.

• Personalized Support: Tailors consultancy, training, and coaching to client companies' needs.

• Networking: Has a members-only network of 90 nationalities in 140 locations worldwide.

Where do they offer services and for whom?

Mostly knowledge database, consultancy, coaching and training online or on-site if required. For companies with mobile employees across many locations.

What makes them unique?

See themselves as a knowledge hub first, with consulting and coaching as add-on services upon request.

What makes them unique?

Provides learning experiences backed by 30+ years of deep experience and research in the cross-cultural field, and approved by local experts.

NetExpat (www.netexpat.com)

What does the company offer?

Assessment, training and partner assistance worldwide.

What are their key programs?

• Talent Management: Supports companies’ international and talent management strategies with customized programs.

• Intercultural Solutions: Uses high-tech, high-touch approach for driving cross-cultural competencies in mobile employees, their families, and business travelers.

• Partner Assistance: Customized programs to support spouses of mobile employees

Where do they offer services and for whom?

Online, and on-site in many countries worldwide. For companies with mobile employees across many locations.

What makes them unique?

Blended learning with high tech, high touch programs, provide high-standard solutions worldwide.

Upskill (www.upskill.consulting)

What does the company offer?

Training to provide employees with the skills they need to be successful in their role.

What are their key programs?

• Leadership and Cross-Cultural Communication: Optimizes collaboration with global colleagues and business partners, helps international leaders communicate better with global teams.

• Cross-cultural training for expats: Helps build cultural competence, overcome communication barriers, and manage culture shock.

• Conflict Resolution: Helps teams deal with conflicts in a measured and successful way.

Where do they offer services and for whom?

Live trainings all over China, online options as well. Target audience is Chinese and foreign employees.

What makes them unique?

Based out of Shanghai, strong China experience and focus, but with a Western approach.

Bonus Mention: Chambers of Commerce (different associations, such as www.amchamchina.org / www.europeanchamber.com.cn / www.britishchamber.cn)

What do they offer?

The different countries’ and regions’ chambers of commerce in China are great resources for companies or individuals arriving in China for the first time. Many chambers of commerce offer cross-cultural competency or expat-specific training on top of the plethora of other resources available through them.

What are their key programs?

• Promoting and advancing business cooperation: Prepare their member companies for the cultural and logistical challenges of entering the Chinese market

• Training and Education Programs: Individual and group formats focusing on various topics from legal and tax aspects to cross-cultural communication.

Where do they offer services and for whom?

Online, and on-site at their various offices across China. For companies aiming at entering the Chinese market.

What makes them unique?

Support first and foremost their member companies, but have a wealth of resources for anyone interested in learning more about China and the Chinese market.

Comparison Table

For easier decision-making, here is an overview table of the 10 companies (+ the bonus mention of the chambers of commerce at the end):

How to choose the right provider

With such a long list of possible options, when looking for a training provider for your company’s expats (or for yourself, if you are an international assignee), making a choice can be overwhelming. Therefore, consider the following options in your decision-making process.

Align your goals with the provider’s specialty

When looking at the provider options, first identify your needs. Questions to ask yourself could be:

• Am I looking for corporate training for senior executives?

• Is my focus mainly on family support including spouse coaching or children’s adjustment?

• Are language skills or cultural orientation my primary objective?

• Am I looking for training only, or a one-on-one approach like coaching or consulting?

After going through the answers to these questions, match your needs to each provider’s specialty. Choose a company whose core expertise aligns with your highest priorities.

For example:

• China Expat Spouse: Ideal for family-focused coaching and transition support.

• EC Group: Best for you if language training is your main focus.

Evaluate your budget and ROI

When evaluating your budget and checking out return on investment (ROI), you want to consider the costs that arise from choosing a certain provider first. To do so

• Compare the pricing structures of various providers

• Check for hidden costs like additional fees for materials or travel expenses

After that is done, assess your ROI by evaluating whether the training outcome justifies the investment. Factors to calculate ROI could be increased employee productivity, smoother family integration or reduced assignment failures. These can of course only be calculated after a provider has been utilized. But this assessment will be crucial to determine the success of the training measure.

Research Provider Reputation

To gauge provider reputation, reading reviews and testimonials can be helpful. Good sources of testimonials will be the provider’s websites and third-party platforms like LinkedIn, Google Reviews, yelp, or similar.

Another option is to check for case studies. Many providers publish success stories showcasing measurable results. Use those as a benchmark for the credibility of their claims.

Look for customized programs

A good provider should be able to offer you a solution tailored to your needs. This includes a certain flexibility on training modes (in-person, live virtual sessions, self-paced online modules, etc.) and locations. And if your focus is on a certain niche (like family integration), choose a provider specializing in it (such as China Expat Spouse).

Verify accreditation and expertise

To know you are making the right choice, look whether your preferred provider has certifications or memberships in professional associations. These can be individual certifications for trainers and coaches (such as IAF membership for trainers or ICF accreditation for coaches), or industry-specific affiliations. Trainers should also be able to prove their language fluency in both training languages and ideally Mandarin.

Seek support beyond training

In addition to giving you a one-off training experience, good providers will be able to give you post-training resources such as follow-up sessions, community support or digital resources. Some may also offer networking opportunities like organizing events or forums where expats can connect and share experiences. Another positive sign is if your preferred provider offers progressive programs for continued growth such as language mastery or leadership coaching. They may also offer discounts or bundled packages for long-time collaborations with companies.

Request trial session or demo

Once your decision has been made, you can also ask for previews by requesting a demo class, trial workshop, or consultation call to evaluate the provider’s training style. Use this opportunity to ensure resonates with your (or your expats’) learning preferences.

Check our decision checklist

To make your job even easier, check off all of the above with our handy decision checklist:

Training Goals

• Have I clearly defined my objectives (e.g., language skills, cultural adaptation, family support)?

• Does the provider specialize in my area of focus (e.g., corporate training, family coaching, or dual vocational programs)?

Budget and ROI

• Is the provider's pricing within my budget?

• Have I assessed the expected ROI (e.g., improved assignment success rates, smoother family transitions)?

Reputation and Credibility

• Have I read reviews, testimonials, or case studies about the provider?

• Is the provider recognized for excellence or affiliated with reputable organizations?

Program Customization

• Does the provider offer customized training solutions tailored to my needs?

• Are their training sessions available in my location or accessible online?

• Does the provider offer flexible training formats (in-person, virtual, hybrid)?

• Are there specific programs for families, children, or accompanying spouses?

Trainer Qualifications

• Are the trainers experienced and certified in their field (e.g., cultural training, language education)?

• Do they have expertise in working with expats in China?

Support Beyond Training

• Does the provider offer post-training resources (e.g., follow-up sessions, community groups)?

• Are there opportunities for networking with other expats or professionals?

• Does the provider offer progressive programs for continued growth or skill development?

• Are there discounts or bundled packages for ongoing corporate partnerships?

Trial or Preview Opportunities

• Have I attended a trial session or demo to evaluate the provider’s teaching style?

• Does the training approach align with my learning preferences?

Final Review

• Have I compared at least three providers to evaluate differences in quality, cost, and program offerings?

• Am I confident my chosen provider can meet my unique needs effectively?

In conclusion - training or coaching for new expats in China is essential for a successful expatriation. When trying to find the best expat training, matching your needs with different provider specialties will be crucial for good decision-making. Feel free to explore the listed websites for detailed program information.

Need Help?

Thinking about taking the plunge but unsure where to start? Need help setting or sustaining your language-learning goals? Consider working with a coach. If you’re curious about coaching, check out our article, “What is Coaching,” and book a free needs assessment call.