News Releases

KU students personally experience China's growing economic power

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

LAWRENCE - Eleven University of Kansas graduate students learned first-hand how to tap into the growing power of China's economic market during a recent study abroad trip organized by the KU School of Business. The students returned this month after spending two weeks in Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai.

Program participants included MBA students Jeff Aleshire, Alyson Collins, Zachary Combs, Anthony Houchin, Justin Lueger, Stephanie (Chi-Man) Ma, Thomas Sanford and Michael Wilson, Master of Accounting students T'Lane Briggeman and Darin Olivarez, and International Studies graduate student Mary Perez.KU Business professor and program director Tailan Chi also accompanied the students.

KU MBA student Justin Lueger said the experience helped him better understand the power of China in the global economy.

"In China, seeing is believing," Lueger said. "My professors have talked ad nauseam about the emergence of China and the impact it will have on the world. But it wasn't until I visited the country that I fully understood why."

Students learned how to adapt U.S. business to Chinese corporate and social culture by attending lectures and meeting with executives from corporations including AECOM-Maunsell, Black and Veatch Energy and Invista. Students also visited government institutions, toured a textile factory and listened in on the latest plans for Beijing's Internet promotions of the 2008 Olympic Games.

The China Connection study abroad program is provided each year by the KU School of Business Institute for International Business (IIB) and Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER). This program prepares business students to become global leaders by gaining a personal understanding of what it takes to enter and operate within the Chinese market.

"It seems like almost every business is global," said Mark Best, MBA student and 2007 program attendee. "It's really good, especially for MBA students, to see business from a different perspective. You learn so much more when you're actually there first-hand."