Oct. 10, 1996-Vol28n07: First look at UB for graduates of former China MBA program

First look at UB for graduates of former China MBA program

By JOHN DELLA CONTRADA
Reporter Contributor

Twenty graduates of the University at Buffalo's former China MBA program, some of whom were getting their first glimpse of their alma mater, traveled thousands of miles to campus last week to help the university celebrate its sesquicentennial.

The group of prominent Chinese nationals included UB graduates who never attended the required semester of study in Buffalo or graduation ceremonies because of a travel ban imposed by the Chinese government following the Tiananmen Square uprising in 1989.

Their arrival signified the UB School of Management's renewed interest in the country, as well as improved diplomatic and economic relations between the U.S. and China. It also brought a sense of closure for those Chinese graduates who were not permitted to study in Buffalo or attend graduation.

"They consider UB to be 'our university,' even though many of them have never stepped foot on campus," said John Thomas, associate dean for international programs in the School of Management. "Their decision to travel thousands of miles at their own expense shows a deep attachment to UB."

Many of the alumni are employed in high-level positions by top Chinese and American-based businesses in China. In addition to attending events marking UB's 150th birthday, the Chinese alumni participated in lectures and social events arranged by the school.

The UB China MBA program was established in 1984 in Dalian, China, as the first and only accredited American MBA program in that country. It graduated 200 students before it ended in 1990.

The school is involved in discussions with Renmin University in Beijing to develop a management certificate program to complement Renmin's MBA curriculum. It once again seeks to be an international leader in management education in China and is among other prominent business schools, including MIT, Rutgers and Duke, seeking to establish linkages with major Chinese universities.

The school's proposed Chinese Management Education Project is a response to increasing demand for business training within China's growing business sector, says Thomas, and will help Western New York companies penetrate the Chinese market through exporting, licensing and direct investments.