Students coming to China mean business

Justin Wai-Wah Man was born in the United States, but his Chinese heritage is playing a big part in shaping his plans. He will return to school in September at Peking University, one of China's most prestigious schools.

The 32-year-old will enter the executive MBA program, a joint concern involving Peking University's Guanghua School of Management and Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

After working in the luxury goods business, and with the experience of running a family business for a decade, he sees opportunities in China.

"As China's influence grows around the world, I recognize the importance of learning as much as possible about China's business practices and enhancing my knowledge even further of the cultural differences to maximize my competitive advantages as an individual and a business owner," he wrote in an e-mail to China Daily.

His upbringing allowed him to grow up in a dual cultural environment, but he wanted to know more about China's business environment and culture.

While it is common to see Chinese students go overseas to study business, the reverse - international students paying for executive MBA programs in China - is rare.

But that is changing as China's economy rises.

More joint programs with overseas business schools have added to the global reputation of Chinese business schools, and an increasing number of foreigners have begun seeking opportunities in China.

Tsinghua University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill formed joint executive MBA programs in 2012.

Shanghai's Fudan University teamed up with Washington University in St. Louis and Renmin University of China forged links with the University of Chicago in 2002.

China authorized the program in 2002, and 30 universities were allowed to run them. The Ministry of Education has gradually permitted more since then, and 64 universities are now conducting them.

Peking University's MBA program has a roughly 50-50 ratio of foreign and Chinese students.

"We attempt to control the ratio to better help international students expand their local networks and help Chinese students enjoy an international learning environment," said Mo Shujun, director of Office of International Relations of the Guanghua School.

The number of foreign applicants has increased in recent years but the school will still maintain a stable ratio of 70 percent international students.

The new program will begin on Sept 19 and the first class will recruit 45 students, Mo said.

The tuition for the two-year program is $150,000.

James Warner, managing director for leadership and talent consulting at Korn Ferry in China, a global executive search firm, has witnessed the new trend and explained it as a sign of a changing world.

"The next financial center might be in Asia, mostly in China. China is becoming more important. In the past, Chinese students went overseas to pursue studies; now some international students choose to come to China to get in touch with the possible next center," he said.

Wai-Wah Man plans to use the knowledge he learns in the Guanghua-Kellogg program to expand his business in China and greater Asia.

luowangshu@chinadaily.com.cn