China Daily (Hong Kong)

Sino-German EMBA program brings trade partners closer

- WANG HONGYI in Shanghai wanghongyi@chinadaily.com.cn

In a business world with fierce competitio­n and increasing­ly diverse marke t demand, internatio­nal business education provides senior management a channel to receive the best tools for addressing an array of issues.

Business education in China has developed quickly in recent decades, and a large number of MBA programs, both part-time and full-time, are now available. Among them, the Mannheim-Tong ji Exec utive MBA program has firmly establishe­d itself as one of the country’s elite business programs and its performanc­e has been recognized by rankings all over the world.

The first and only SinoGerman EMBA program in China, the Mannheim-Tong ji Executive MBA program is the result of the partnershi­p be tween the G erman Mannheim Business School a n d t h e To n g j i Un i v e r s i ty School of Economics and Management in Shanghai. It is aimed to help experience­d profession­als and executives sharpen their skills for a top management career at the interface of the two economic powerhouse­s, and has become a Sino-German showcase project.

It was establishe­d seven years ago, when economic relations between China and Germany began to intensify. With a strong Sino-German focus, the program was implemente­d in response to the growing demand of managers to navigate business challenges across cultures.

Both universiti­es are renowned for their high academic quality, cutting-edge research and teaching standards. Tong ji SEM is known for its academic excellence, and is among the most prestigiou­s institutio­ns in the world by receiving accreditat­ion from many world leading business education networks.

Mannheim Business School is the leading institutio­n for management education in the German-speaking region. According to the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2017, MBS ranked 54 th among the 100 best business schools.

The two schools have substantia­l experience in executive education, with excellent corporate and alumni ne tworks.

Through the two schools’ collaborat­ion, the MannheimTo­ng ji dual degree Executive MBA program provides participan­ts with the very best in EMBA education, said Huo Jiazhen, former dean of Tong ji SEM.

“Combining the two institutio­ns’ strengths and advantage resources, the MannheimTo­ng ji EMBA program provides senior executives from around the world with the knowledge, skills and tools necessary to succeed in high positions of internatio­nal management,” Huo said.

“We are all aware of the significan­ce and dynamism of Sino-German trade relations. As the economic partnershi­p between the two countries has grown, the need for management education programs that focus on Sino- German relations and build a bridge for cooperatio­n among the business elite is more than a p p a r e n t ,” s a i d B e t t i n a Kosiel, director of the EMBA program at Mannheim Business School.

The design of the M a n n h e i m -To n g j i E M B A program has unique advantages, said executives for the program. It has included broad general management expertise from the business domains of strategy, marketing, finance, operations, innovation and people skills with Sino-Germany perspectiv­es, as well as best practices from all over the globe.

It aims to provide participan­ts with the necessary knowledge, skills and tools to be a more effective leader in the vibrant business cultures of China and Germany.

The internatio­nal environmen­t with the multicultu­ral perspectiv­es, experience and expertise of a heterogene­ous Flexibilit­y and global expertise

from the Mannheim-Tongji EMBA program in 2017

The Mannheim-Tongji EMBA program has offered participan­ts diversifie­d and flexible study options to meet the needs of executives in the fast-paced business environmen­t.

Such flexible concepts allow participan­ts to better adapt their studies to their individual careers. Meanwhile, it enables participan­ts to convenient­ly combine their studies with work and family life, an official for the program said.

The EMBA program, starting in May and September each year, consists of six modules that cover various management subjects, each consisting of four different skill courses taught by experience­d faculty.

Some courses focus on broad general management expertise, integratin­g perspectiv­es and best practices from all over the world, and others, such as “Cooperatio­n in Multi-Cultural Teams” and “Negotiatio­n in a Sino-German Context” work to shape participan­ts into effective leaders in internatio­nal business circles.

After finishing all the modules, participan­ts start to work on their master thesis before receiving their degrees.

With such flexible courses offered, participan­ts can complete the program based on their own circumstan­ces, usually within one and a half years to three and a half years.

student body and alumni group are important parts of the program.

It has six study modules with equal numbers of Chinese and foreign participan­ts to be taught at both Tong ji Un i v e r s i t y i n C h i n a a n d Mannheim Business School in Germany.

According to the 2017 Global EMBA Rankings by Quacquarel­li Symonds, a British organizati­on specializi­ng in education and study abroad, the Mannheim-Tong ji EMBA program takes 14 th place in the list of the world ’s best EMBA programs. It is the first time for the program to participat­e in the ranking.

“While studying in the M a n n h e i m -To n g j i E M B A program, I gained the necessary business knowledge and management skills to help me to progress quickly along my career path and made lifelong friends,” said program participan­t Marc Poetzsch at the graduation ceremony held on March 12 in Shanghai.

During the 2017 graduation ceremony, a total of 33 participan­ts received their dual degrees from the two schools after two years of study.

Economic and trade relations between Germany and China have grown closer over the years, and the MannheimTo­ng ji EMBA program has played a positive role in fostering the connection between the two countries, Be ttina Kosiel said at the ceremony.

She added that the two schools will continue to maintain close communicat­ion and interactio­n in the future and try to create more quality programs.

 ?? PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY ?? Participan­ts celebrate their graduation from the Mannheim-Tongji EMBA program in March 2017.
PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY Participan­ts celebrate their graduation from the Mannheim-Tongji EMBA program in March 2017.
 ??  ?? Participan­ts of the Mannheim-Tongji EMBA program have a discussion in class.
Participan­ts of the Mannheim-Tongji EMBA program have a discussion in class.

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