When speaking about China, professors and alumni of Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB) have no hesitation in discussing its problems. But, in their eyes, pollution, corruption or the housing bubble are not sources of worry or frustration. Rather, these are opportunities to make a difference. Freda Wan of South China Morning Post discusses this phenomenon and how CKGSB can capitalize on these opportunities.
When speaking about China, professors and alumni of Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB) have no hesitation in discussing its problems. But, in their eyes, pollution, corruption or the housing bubble are not sources of worry or frustration. Rather, these are opportunities to make a difference.
“These are growing pains,” says Li Haitao, associate dean for the MBA programme, who spoke at a CKGSB event held in Hong Kong in March. “They are some of the biggest opportunities in human history.”
At present, the school is stepping up activities to attract more Hong Kong-based professionals for its MBA programmes. Established in Beijing in 2002 with support from the Li Ka Shing Foundation, it offers a full-time MBA at the Beijing campus and part-time options in Beijing, Shanghai or Shenzhen. Other programmes now available include an EMBA, Chinese MBA, CKGSB Business Scholar Program, and various executive education courses.
Li Haitao hopes that the CKGSB MBA can help young professionals gain knowledge of and access to the mainland China market.
“We can be a platform for Hong Kong students,” he says. “They can get inspired, get practical help for starting a business in China, or see their [corporate] careers accelerated.”
The Cheung Kong MBA helps a majority of their MBA students change job function or industry in their corporate careers (74% for 2010 graduates), as well as a significant average increase in salary (156% increase for 2010 graduates).
In the 2012 MBA class, in which the average working experience was 5.2 years, one-fifth of the students were either entrepreneurs or had entrepreneurial experience.
“I’m always impressed by the drive of our MBA students,” Li says. “They are real doers and innovators.”
Read the full article, CKGSB plans to attract more young professionals from HK, at SCMP’s website.
