41 Executives Graduate from UB's MBA Program in China

BEIJING -- The University at Buffalo School of Management, in conjunction with Renmin University in Beijing and Praxair Inc., celebrated the graduation of its second China Executive MBA class on Nov. 5 in Beijing.

Forty-one Chinese executives completed the two-year program, which was designated as the best in China by the Chinese Ministry of Education. The program is designed for executives with at least five years of work experience. Courses are taught in English by UB faculty who travel to China to teach in three- or four-week modules. Renmin faculty member experienced in Western business practices also teach in the program.

The graduates hold high-level positions at some of China's leading companies, including Motorola, Microsoft, Lucent Technologies and Praxair.

"Our China Executive MBA program is a model global partnership between education and industry," said John M. Thomas, interim dean of the UB School of Management, who traveled to Beijing for the commencement ceremony. "The support of Praxair has been critical to helping UB work with the Renmin School of Business Administration to build a Western model of education in China."

Praxair has aided the school with its educational efforts in China since 1995. Through two $200,000 grants, the industrial gases company provided funding for the creation of the China Executive MBA program and contributes to the upgrade of classroom technologies there.

"With 16 wholly owned companies and joint ventures in China, we consider the China MBA program an important part of the company's efforts to grow business in Asia," said Brent Lok, president of Praxair China.

Dennis H. Reilley, chairman, president and CEO of Praxair, congratulated the graduates in a letter read at the commencement ceremony: "Praxair is proud to be associated with a program that provides each of you, as potential future business leaders in China, the opportunity to receive this quality education experience," Reilley wrote.

Many of the graduating executives and key representatives from Renmin University visited Buffalo for a special celebratory convocation in early October. In addition to a welcome reception and a dinner in their honor, the delegation attended several management lectures and visited global food company Rich Products.

In addition to the Executive MBA program at Renmin, the University at Buffalo School of Management operates an Executive MBA program at Motorola University, also in China, and an Executive MBA program in Singapore.