Meet Ruohan, a former PhD student and LucyEnt Challenge participant
When Ruohan Zhang first joined the LucEnt Challenge as a PhD student, she introduced a simple but powerful idea: Safe Steward, a home repair service designed specifically for single women. That early concept showed her deep belief that vocational and technical skills can play a vital role in solving overlooked challenges in society.
Today, that belief has grown into something much bigger.
Ruohan recently returned to China to formally launch the UK–China Joint Vocational Skills and Talent Development Centre, an initiative she now leads. The event was held in the presence of Her Excellency Caroline Wilson CMG, the British Ambassador to China, and marked a significant step in strengthening vocational collaboration between the UK and China.
But it wasn’t just about skills. The launch also spotlighted aspects of China’s intangible cultural heritage, including traditional embroidery—a craft that caught the eye of Ambassador Wilson, who even purchased a piece during her visit. It’s this blend of the modern and the traditional that defines Ruohan’s approach. She’s not just building a training centre; she’s creating a platform that honours heritage while looking toward the future.
Working with more than 40 masters of traditional crafts, Ruohan and her team are exploring how these time-honoured techniques—like embroidery—can be adapted into products with international appeal. It’s about telling stories through craft and using those stories to build bridges across cultures.
The Centre’s unveiling was met with enthusiastic media coverage, including one feature that drew over half a million views—an encouraging sign that the public is paying attention.
The momentum is continuing to build. Next month, the Centre will welcome a UK business delegation of more than 40 representatives, and a visit from the incoming British Ambassador is expected later in the summer. In parallel, the team has started a partnership with TQUK (Training Qualifications UK) to offer accredited vocational courses, laying the groundwork for future educational programmes.
Ruohan admits that the journey hasn’t always been easy. Balancing the demands of a PhD with growing a cross-border initiative takes patience and resilience. But she’s quick to credit the support she’s received—from mentors, collaborators, and fellow Lucent alumni—for keeping her grounded and motivated.
“I’ve learned to value the process, not just the outcome,” she says. “What’s kept me going is knowing that the work matters—and that it’s rooted in something meaningful.”
With a strong foundation in place, Ruohan is now focused on growing the Centre into a sustainable, socially driven business—one that can continue connecting people, skills, and stories across borders.
