At the University of Charleston's Graduate School of Business, students are teaching their classmates how to use chopsticks.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- At the University of Charleston's Graduate School of Business, students are teaching their classmates how to use chopsticks.
There's a bulletin board that displays the latest business news from China. A dragon hangs from the wall outside the business school's classrooms at The Equities House - the old Boll Furniture building - in downtown Charleston.
What has sparked so much interest in the world's third-largest economy?
Starting in June, 13 students from UC's inaugural graduate business school class are heading to Shanghai, China, as part of a nine-week study-abroad program. Students plan to take courses in Chinese language and contemporary Chinese business, and complete an internship at a Shanghai multinational company.
"You can't deny Shanghai's position in the global market," said Nora Myers, the business graduate school's experiential director, who will accompany the students for part of the trip. "The Chinese-U.S. economic relationship is the world's most important. Our students will have front-row seats to the dynamics of that relationship as they study economic reform in China, and an overview of Shanghai as a financial, banking, manufacturing and commerce center."
Shanghai University faculty will teach the classes.
Students also will take part in field trips to Chinese factories, museums and historical sights.
The business school is partnering with the World Education Group, which has helped recruit undergraduate Chinese students to UC's campus in Kanawha City.
Some of UC's graduate students - who range in age from 21 to 29 - initially expressed worries about spending nine weeks in China, Myers said. Similar study-abroad programs often last about 10 days.
The business school has invited Charleston-area business leaders who have visited China to talk with students, helping to ease those concerns.
"The opportunity for nine weeks is stunning," said Charles Ryan, dean of the graduate school. "They will experience the very fiber of China's business and economy in great detail."
Students will learn the importance of cross-cultural communications, entrepreneurship and international commerce during their stay, Ryan said.
"These are the building blocks that will help our students take great strides in achieving required learning outcomes," he said. "Our goal is to create a new generation of leadership for West Virginia."
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- At the University of Charleston's Graduate School of Business, students are teaching their classmates how to use chopsticks.
There's a bulletin board that displays the latest business news from China. A dragon hangs from the wall outside the business school's classrooms at The Equities House - the old Boll Furniture building - in downtown Charleston.
What has sparked so much interest in the world's third-largest economy?
Starting in June, 13 students from UC's inaugural graduate business school class are heading to Shanghai, China, as part of a nine-week study-abroad program. Students plan to take courses in Chinese language and contemporary Chinese business, and complete an internship at a Shanghai multinational company.
"You can't deny Shanghai's position in the global market," said Nora Myers, the business graduate school's experiential director, who will accompany the students for part of the trip. "The Chinese-U.S. economic relationship is the world's most important. Our students will have front-row seats to the dynamics of that relationship as they study economic reform in China, and an overview of Shanghai as a financial, banking, manufacturing and commerce center."
Shanghai University faculty will teach the classes.
Students also will take part in field trips to Chinese factories, museums and historical sights.
The business school is partnering with the World Education Group, which has helped recruit undergraduate Chinese students to UC's campus in Kanawha City.
Some of UC's graduate students - who range in age from 21 to 29 - initially expressed worries about spending nine weeks in China, Myers said. Similar study-abroad programs often last about 10 days.
The business school has invited Charleston-area business leaders who have visited China to talk with students, helping to ease those concerns.
"The opportunity for nine weeks is stunning," said Charles Ryan, dean of the graduate school. "They will experience the very fiber of China's business and economy in great detail."
Students will learn the importance of cross-cultural communications, entrepreneurship and international commerce during their stay, Ryan said.
"These are the building blocks that will help our students take great strides in achieving required learning outcomes," he said. "Our goal is to create a new generation of leadership for West Virginia."
During the trip, several students plan to report on their experiences through Internet blogs.
After returning, they'll be expected to share their impressions with fellow students.
"They'll be developing their personal self, their abilities as global citizens," Myers said.
Students will earn nine credits during the program. The majority of costs for the trip are included in the price of summer tuition.
West Virginia exports - mostly chemicals - to China have increased in recent years. In 2007, Gov. Joe Manchin led a trade mission to China. Manchin and state development officials visited a coal-to-liquids plant near Shanghai during the trip.
UC's first class of students in the Master of Business Administration and Leadership program will graduate in 2010.
The graduate program opened on the second floor of the Equities House building in August 2008.
"I don't see how you can get an MBA without knowing what's going on in China," Myers said. "China is the top of the heap as far as studying global business."
UC's graduate business school plans to offer similar study-abroad programs in future years.
The school expects to have 90 students enrolled after three years.
"We've got a great program that is definitely going to grow," Ryan said.
Reach Eric Eyre at erice...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-4869.
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