MBAs are popular in China once again
by Wang Ying (China Daily)
MBAs are back in fashion, thanks to more white-collar professionals seeking an advanced business education in a tough global economy. More than 60,000 people applied for MBA courses in January, a 30 percent increase over January 2008. They're choosing prestigious business schools, too. MBA applicants at schools such as Tsinghua, Peking and Fudan universities were up 30 percent from last year.
Yang Jianfeng, deputy director at Fudan University's education and training center, said the number of MBA applicants in China could reach 70,000 by 2010. Many foreign campuses, detecting the rising interest for high-level business management education in China, are establishing a presence in the country.
The latest development is the start of a business school branch opened in Shanghai in July by Paris-based HEC, France's top business school. Shanghai, China's financial hub, now is home to eight overseas business school programs.
Partnership
The HEC course is unique in its partnership with two government agencies: the Education and Training Center for Officials and Entrepreneurs for State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) and the Training Center of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).
NDRC Training Center Director Du Ping said at the opening ceremony for the HEC program in Shanghai that Chinese entrepreneurs who want to practice international acquisitions have to become familiar with international business customs and regulations, as well as with a variety of management styles.
"We call upon HEC, as Europe's leading business school, to provide the highest level of international management tools and insights to leaders in China, who must drive their organizations to be more competitive in the global market," Du said.HEC has offered its HEC Paris Executive MBA in China program in Beijing since 2006. HEC cited the success of that program for this summer's expansion to Shanghai. This EMBA program is designed to strengthen the technical expertise and leadership skills of China's executives. It is open to participants from China's private sector and also from multinational corporations operating in China. "This program is a strategic expansion of HEC Paris's international portfolio and demonstrates HEC's global reach," said Bernard Ramanantsoa, dean of the HEC Paris Executive MBA program.
"HEC Paris is investing in China with the support of government partners like the NDRC, allowing us to put our expertise to use serving companies doing business in China and doing business with China," Ramanantsoa said.
Gregori Pillegand, marketing director of Sodexo Greater China, said he benefited from the MBA program offered by HEC. "During the Executive MBA program, I learned how to excel as part of a team and gained new managerial skills that I use every day in my professional life," Pillegand said. "I developed an incredible network which creates many professional opportunities in China and beyond," he added.
Building networks of business contacts is among the appeals of MBA programs. HEC Paris has 45,000 notable alumni in business and political fields throughout the world, including World Trade Organization Director-General Pascal Lamy, Carrefour Group President Daniel Bernard, Axa Group President Henri de Castries and Adecco President Philippe Foriel-Destezet.
Intensive course
The HEC Paris program in Shanghai is an intensive course for senior managers. The course is taught in English, and participants apply their professional experiences and perspectives to lessons with global marketplace themes.
In addition to the Shanghai modules, students are required to complete a one-week study trip to Paris to learn at HEC's main campus. The average age of participants in the 18-month HEC Paris program is 43.
Yang Ya, CFO of the China Three Gorges Project Corp, said he compared several MBA programs before choosing the HEC Paris Executive MBA in China course. "The faculty is the strongest that I have seen, and I was very impressed by the curriculum," Yang said. "The focus on global vision, strategic thinking and international management are highly relevant for me and my company," he said.
Wang Zhentao, chairman and president of Aokang Co Ltd, a leading Chinese shoe manufacturer, said the program's partnership with the SASAC and NDRC can build a bridge between State-owned and foreign companies.
For three consecutive years since 2006, the Financial Times has included HEC Paris as among the leading business schools in Europe. The latest Financial Times list ranked HEC Paris No 5 among top schools worldwide. HEC Paris's Executive MBA program in Shanghai will be taught at the city's Lake Malaren International Convention Center. In addition to its MBA programs, HEC has set up eight business and industry think tanks, including the Eurasia Institute, Europe Institute and Latin America Center.
