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Linda Yeung

TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS in Hong Kong have extended their presence and influence on the mainland by offering MBA programmes.

Many universities praise this as a positive step for further academic exchanges that will benefit students in Hong Kong and across the border.

Hong Kong Baptist University started offering its MBA course on the campus of Zhongshan University in Guangzhou at about the time when Chinese University of Hong Kong joined with Tsinghua University to launch its MBA in finance programme in 2000.

It aimed to cater for demand for management training from aspiring executives.

Baptist University is now offering the same programme in Shenzhen and Nanjing, adopting the same curriculum as in Hong Kong.

City University of Hong Kong's (CityU) programme has also been available in Shenzhen for the past two years to meet demand for finance and accounting talent in China as a result of the transition from state-owned enterprises to corporates, requiring higher accountability from companies. Some of CityU's students are Hong Kong people travelling there at weekends for classes.

Such programmes broaden graduates' networks and the research scope of local faculties.

'It can be a rich opportunity to meet people on the other side of the border,' said Michael Ferguson, CityU's MBA programmes director.

'The programmes tend to have a strong focus on the Chinese institutional setting. There is quite a lot of interaction with local government officials, companies and industries. It is not just networking with students but with companies and the government.'

Students in the CityU-Tsinghua programme have access to resources at both institutions and are also alumni of both. CityU is also running an EMBA programme with Xian Jiaotong University.

A goal of the Baptist University MBA Alumni Association is to cultivate ties between mainland graduates, who number more than 1,000, and the graduates from Hong Kong, through social activities and academic conferences. Mainland alumni have helped organise field trips and internships at Chinese companies for Baptist University undergraduates.

Shi Yizheng, Baptist University's associate MBA director (China class),  said the faculty benefited by getting a better understanding of the Chinese economy. 'Many of our staff conduct China-related research,' Dr Shi said.

One major difference between the Hong Kong and mainland programmes concerns the medium of instruction.

Courses for mainland students tend to be in Chinese or bilingual, while those in Hong Kong are mostly in English.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University's Doctor of Management programme is bilingual and offered jointly with Renmin University in Beijing.

Judy Tsui Lam Sin-lai, dean at PolyU Faculty of Business,  said the programme filled a gap in the market.

'Many MBA programmes are on offer in China but not the professional doctorate programme. We cannot do too much in China and we focus on unique programmes, areas where we have the expertise,' she said.

The programme attracts top executives including:  Wang Xiao Chu, chairman and chief executive of China Telecom Corp;   Chang Xiao Bing, chairman and chief executive at China Unicom;  and  Kao Ruey Bin, corporate president of Motorola in China.

Professor Tsui said exposure to the mainland market and attracting top talent were highly rewarding for the faculty.

'Our staff can gain access to business practices in China and get exposure to cutting-edge research issues,' she said.

The advanced teaching techniques, high academic standard and quality assurance mechanism of Hong Kong programmes were big attractions to mainland students, she added.

JOINT benefits

Exposure to the mainland market

Broadening of graduates' networks

Widening scope of research

Access to resources of both institutes

Becoming alumni of both universities



Mainland links a winner for all