|
The old gate of Tsinghua University. More white-collar professionals are seeking MBAs in this tough global economy.[Asianewsphoto] |
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.
The MBA 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.
