Smith Executive MBA Expands to Shanghai, China

The Smith School of Business has expanded its Executive MBA (EMBA) program in China to include Shanghai. Smith held a welcome reception for the first Shanghai cohort at the Portman Ritz Carlton in Shanghai on November 17, 2005.

Like the Beijing program, which was launched in January 2003, the Shanghai EMBA will be delivered by the world-renowned faculty of the Smith School. The innovative, 18-month EMBA program is designed specifically for mid-to-senior level executives.

Professor Walter Hutchens, assistant professor of logistics, business and public policy, welcomed the 70 guests in attendance with an inspired speech in both Chinese and English. Other officials on hand to welcome the students included Ning Shao, chief representative, State of Maryland, and Smith alumnus Greg Hanifee, general manager, Verizon Information Services-Asia.

The speeches were followed by a lively and active networking event during which the Chinese students met Dr. Hugo De Wit of the Graduate School of Business Administration Zrich (GSBA Zrich) the home of the Smith EMBA in Switzerland, and a group of students from the Zrich program.

Earlier in the day the Shanghai students participated in orientation with Dr. Rob Sheehan, a Smith EMBA senior fellow. Formal classes started on November 18, 2005. Similar to the Smith Schools EMBA programs in the United States, the Smith EMBA in Shanghai will consist of three integrated modules: foundation, mastery and experiential learning.

The Smith Schools world-class MBA core is the foundation of the program. The mastery track (communications, innovation, leadership, negotiations, ethics, etc.) builds on the foundation and provides students with the skills required to be successful leaders in the 21st century global economy. The experiential learning module integrates the foundation and mastery components through a strategic marketing simulation, a comprehensive business simulation and real-world opportunities.

Visit http://www.rhsmith-umd.cn for more information about Smith's programs in China.

▓ Smith Media Group, Priscilla Mwangi, MBA Candidate 2006