China Module Broadens Horizons of Executives in International EMBA Class XI

23.6.2010

 

Members of BMI International Executive MBA class XI (2009/2011) have returned to Vilnius after a week of lecturers, company visits and cultural outings in China which they said provided valuable insight into the reality of today’s global business world.

 

“It was a great opportunity to see how a classical ‘wrong politic regime’ can have a very positive influence on the business environment – we could feel the pulse of the fast growing economy when the rest of the world is facing crisis,” said Mindaugas Žolynas of the law firm Lideika, Petrauskas, Valiūnas and Partners LAWIN. “In my opinion the democratic regimes can learn from China how to effectively separate politics from the regulation of business activities,” he added.

 

Besides lecturers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University on topics such as the Chinese approach to strategy and branding, the 2010 study trip included visits with management briefings at companies including Phonak Unitron Hearing (Suzhou), Bao Steel, Shanghai Volkswagen and a Silk Factory.

 

“Delivering part of the EMBA programme on site in foreign countries is intended to broaden students’ horizons, create networking opportunities and generally foster open-minded thinking about global business development,” BMI Director General Jaunius Pusvaškis said. Past modules abroad took EMBA students to BMI’s consortium schools in Western Europe. Beginning in 2009, the tradition was changed to in favour of trips beyond Europe.

 

China was chosen as a particularly dynamic example of global business processes today, and a location with significant cultural differences so that students can directly experience the role of cross-cultural awareness, according to Pusvaškis. “The China Module means direct experience of the dynamism of today’s global business world,” he noted.

 

Following are the comments of Antonio Pineda, Director of Liepkiemis Public Institute:

 

"I am really impressed by our study trip to Shanghai. I have found that many ideas I had about China and the Chinese were wrong. Now I understand better which are the strengths and the weaknesses of the Eastern Dragon and I can assess more accurately the real impact of their fast development on my own business.

The study trip was really well balanced in so far as it combined interesting lessons-discussions on different aspects of doing business in China held in the most prestigious business school of the country, meetings with managers of leading companies and visits to their manufacturing sites, as well as cultural events in Shanghai and its surroundings.

Of course, sharing these days and all our impressions with other students in a friendly and informal atmosphere was a great opportunity to deepen in our friendship, which also makes the BMI EMBA an exciting experience for me."

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