Universities unite in culture, science, technology exchange

The first and only Sino-German MBA program, the partnership between the German Mannheim Business School and the Tongji University School of Economics and Management in Shanghai, is entering its sixth year of collaboration.

A new session of the Mannheim-Tongji Executive MBA program kicked off on March 8.

Established in 1907 by the German government together with German physicians in Shanghai, Tongji is regarded as the window of cultural, technology and science exchanges between China and Germany. Tongji SEM is renowned for its academics, cutting-edge research and teaching excellence, especially in the engineering and manufacturing industries.

Mannheim Business School, an umbrella organization of management education at the University of Mannheim, is a leading business school in Germany and among the best in the world.

As economic relations between China and Germany intensified in recent years, the two leading business schools joined forces to establish the program in 2010.

“Combining the two institutions’ strengths and advantage resources, the Mannheim-Tongji EMBA provides senior executives and high-level talents from around the world with the knowledge, skills and business tools necessary for international management, competition and other business challenges,” said Huo Jiazhen, dean of Tongji SEM.

“We are all aware of the significance and dynamism of Sino-German trade relations. As the strategic economic partnership between China and Germany has strengthened, the need for management education programs that focus on Sino-German relations and build a bridge for the exchange of business elite is more than apparent,” said Bettina Kosiel, the director of the EMBA program at Mannheim Business School.

Kosiel said the successful development has to do with the program’s concept.

“We have created a course of study that is not only highly innovative but also unique in its structure, its content and its target group. Meanwhile, the high level of international quality also helps to build the program’s success,” Kosiel said.

“Not only did the number of participants rise a third, but also about one-third of them already got their master’s or PhD degrees before,” Huo Jiazhen said at the new session opening ceremony of Mannheim-Tongji EMBA program held recently in Shanghai.

“I must attribute this outstanding achievement to our professors, directors and administrative staff in both institutions, as well as our board members, companies, and alumni,” Huo said.

According to the school, 72 participants are currently enrolled in the program and 82 have already graduated.

Tongji SEM is a full member of global education institutions. It has also established partnerships with more than 70 business schools and universities in 15 countries and regions in terms of faculty and student exchange and scientific research. In May 2015, The Financial Times ranked Mannheim Business School as No 5 of its best German supplier for customized programs, a climb of seven positions from the previous year.

“The Mannheim-Tongji EMBA program offers Chinese and German executives best management education, cultivates personnel mastering both Chinese and German corporate cultures to conduct global business management and provides a broad general management expertise with a strong focus on Sino-German topics,” Huo said.

The dean said the economic downturn has had an impact on business schools but also gives “an opportunity for making adjustments and to further boost business education quality”.

MBA program attracts global talent to China

After years of development and exploration, the Mannheim-Tongji Executive MBA program has become a model program in Sino-German business education.

The Shanghai-based Tongji University School of Economics and Management and the Mannheim Business School in Germany jointly established the EMBA program in 2010 against the backdrop of the ever-strengthening economic and cultural relations between the two countries.

Featuring the business education with Chinese and European perspectives, the program focuses on global business challenges from intercultural perspectives and achievements of cross-border understandings in practice.

“The program provides participants with broad general management expertise, integrating perspectives and best practices from all over the globe,” said Huo Jiazhen, dean of Tongji SEM. “Competent, socially aware and responsible managers with a global outlook will be prepared here, who are ready to master the challenges of the Sino-German business world. It offers a unique opportunity to become immersed in the vibrant cultures of two highly recognized institutions, as they study in two business hubs: Shanghai and Mannheim.”

The courses of the program are not only highly innovative but also unique in their structure, content and target group. The program covers six modules, with three in Mannheim and three in Shanghai. Each module has four hard and soft skill courses taught in English by faculty from both countries.

The hard skill courses can provide participants with broad general management expertise, integrating perspectives and best practices from all over the globe. Soft skill courses such as “Cooperation in Multi-Cultural Teams” and “Negotiation in a Sino-German Context” will enable participants to become more effective leaders.

According to the school, the program offers three different study options to maximize the benefits of learning experience while keeping within the constraints of an individual business schedule.

In addition to allowing participants access to world-class faculty and business speakers from top enterprises in Sino-European markets, the program also integrates innovative theory and practical cases by organizing regular company visits so as to have deeper exchanges with industry practices.

The program has also established an advisory board, consisting of top management representatives of leading European and Chinese companies and high-ranking officials.

Related figures showed that more than 60 percent of participants in the Mannheim-Tongji EMBA program are executives from Germany and other countries and regions.

“I particularly enjoyed the lively discussions with my fellow classmates as they helped me gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of both the Chinese and the European business worlds,” said Sophia Su, one of the participants in the program’s 2012 class. “Drawing from the accumulated experience of the class, I learned to look at business challenges differently and with a broader perspective.

“From the beginning, we very deliberately ensured not only that the student body consists of both Chinese and German talent, but also the program is enriched by participants from other parts of the world as well. This balance creates a culture of learning marked by harmony and mutual respect, which has shown itself to be very fruitful,” said Bettina Kosiel, director of the EMBA program at Mannheim Business School.

“We are proud of our participants and our faculty members. They are a group of outstanding individuals, whose strengths lie also in their diversity,” she added.

Partnership looks to lead society in the future

The School of Economics and Management at Tongji University has vowed to build itself into a world-leading business school with global vision and lofty aspiration in business world.

Tongji University in Shanghai was founded by the German government along with German physicians including Erich Paulun in 1907. Its business school’s research strengths lie in engineering management, industry management and urban development management.

“Our mission is to create management knowledge and develop leading professionals for China and the world who are capable of solving practical problems while addressing the challenges of business and society with a global perspective, responsibility and in a sustainable way,” said Huo Jiazhen, dean of Tongji SEM.

“Over the past years, Tongji SEM has long been pursuing international development strategy and insisting practical teaching and research so as to build its global competitiveness,” Huo said.

“With such strategy and development direction, Tongji SEM has received a lot of achievements and also sees a rising significance among the world’s business education,” he said.

Tongji SEM has established collaborative partnerships with more than 70 business schools and universities from 15 countries and regions.

It has collaborated in undergraduate and graduate programs with ESCP Europe Business School and ESSEC Business School, an MBA double-degree program with Manchester Business School, an EMBA double-degree program with the University of Mannheim, MBA and finance programs with Case Western Reserve University, and an SIMBA program with ENPC School of International Management.

Tongji SEM is also a full member of global education institutions including AACSB, EFMD, AMBA and PRME, and has achieved accreditations with EQUIS, AMBA and CAMEA.

In 2014, Tongji SEM ranked seventh among the top business schools of Chinese mainland in Eduniversal Worldwide Business School Ranking.

In 2015, its masters program in management was globally ranked 52nd by The Financial Times, rising 13 positions from the previous year.

Its SIMBA program climbed to 57th from 68th position in the latest 2015 Global EMBA ranking released by The Financial Times.

The dean said Tongji SEM will make efforts to promote the school’s international growth and disciplinary development so as to better equip students with rich business knowledge and strong global competitiveness for business challenges.

Source: China Daily, March 15, 2016