English Language Institute Works with School of Management to Establish Program in China Volume 3, Issue 1 - Fall 1999 Recently, John Fitzer visited Beijing to assist the school of management in developing a new joint educational program that would link Chinese and American students, faculty and businessmen. John is the Assistant Director for the English as a Second Language Program (ESLP). He also administrates the International Teaching Assistant Program and assists in the international recruitment activities for the university. School of Management (SOM) faculty is developing an executive MBA program in China. It will operate in collaboration with Remnin University in Beijing as a partner institution. Renmin University in Beijing is nationally known for its quality. The regular MBA program of Renmin is ranked among the top five in China. The non-traditional program has been strongly encouraged by our Dalian alumni, many of whom are now successful in government agencies and various types of enterprises in China. Several U.S. companies and firms have also given their endorsement. Benefits to SOM include the addition of new faculty, increased enrollment, and access to research programs. Other benefits involve partnering with multinationals in business and educational enterprises. The desirability of the program is they offer a UB degree in the EMBA program. It will require 48 credit hours (i.e.,16 courses) of study. 12 courses are to be taught in Beijing, and the remaining four at UB. Half of the Beijing courses will be taught by UB faculty, and the remaining six by qualified Chinese instructors enhances cultural relevancy and reduces cost and manpower shifts from other existing programs. The instructional language for the program is English. Students will work with a new international standard for measuring English language proficiency called TOEIC. TOEIC differs from traditional academic testing and is designed specifically to test abilities in English as it is used in real-life situations and business. Currently, the proposed program has been approved in principle by the State Education Commission and is due to begin this January 1999 at UB. Fitzer was impressed with the changes he saw. "China has developed rapidly", he said. "They appear to have been less affected by the recent economic crises that have affected Asia." He also regarded the Chinese businessmen as, "sophisticated, professional, and less isolated." The proposed program responds to the demand for high-quality executive education and training due to China’s rapid economic growth, the reform of state owned enterprises and a new strategy of joint ventures with foreign companies. Return to the International and Comparative Studies in Education Homepage |
