Business school expands partnerships with Chinese universities

The School of Business is expanding its relationships with two partner universities in China to include student exchange agreements.

Although the signing of the formal agreement documents is pending, a variety of activities have commenced. The terms of these agreements will provide KU business students with more opportunities to study in China.

Like KU, Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou is a comprehensive university, and the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing specializes in international business, economics, law and foreign languages. Both of these KU partner universities have top-ranked business schools.

Plans are being made to send three KU business students to UIBE this fall.

“There is scholarship money available to help fund our students for study in China,” said Carol Rose, director of the business school’s Institute for International Business. “We are working with the KU Office of Study Abroad on course offerings and getting these courses approved for KU business credit.”

Exchange students from China have already arrived at KU. Last spring and again this spring semester, doctoral students from UIBE are at KU working with Tailan Chi, associate professor of business. In addition, two undergraduate students from SYSU are now at KU as part of the new exchange program. Rose said these students were having a meaningful and successful experience at KU. Students from KU will be able to attend the two Chinese universities next year and will be able to earn an additional degree if they study in China for two semesters.

“These universities offer excellent opportunities for our students to gain in-depth knowledge about this rapidly growing economic power in the world and to stay on track toward graduation because of the business courses offered in English,” said Chi.

Two Chinese faculty members also are visiting KU this spring semester. They are supported by the Chinese government and are involved in research projects with Andrew Chen, assistant professor of business, and Terry Zhao, assistant professor of business.

In May, a group of KU master’s of business administration students will travel to SYSU to get an inside look at Chinese business activity and to participate in an international business case competition sponsored by Wal-Mart.

The KU School of Business thinks international experience is key to preparing students for leadership positions in the global marketplace. KU business students take advantage of study abroad programs at rates well above the national average, and 70 percent of the KU business faculty have conducted international research or taught abroad in the last three years.