An excursion to China by College of Business Dean Charlie Moyer, Dean Emeritus Bob Taylor and envoy/translator Xiujie Sun continues to create new study abroad initiatives for students and faculty. 
     On October 7, Dean Moyer and Associate Dean Hardy Niu agreed upon an informal partnership between the College of Business and The Beijing Foreign Studies University (BSFU) School of International Business. Ultimately the partnership will include undergraduate student and faculty exchanges. The business school has 1,000 of the university's 4,000 students.

     BFSU business graduates are highly recruited by multinational companies because they must demonstrate the highest level of English proficiency as well as solid business management credentials. The school also offers custom "summer camps" of two to three weeks for undergraduate students who travel to Beijing for lectures on Chinese business, company visits and cultural tours. This is a highly rated school in China and should provide UofL students and faculty excellent learning and research opportunities.
     Two days later, the trio met with Fudan University Associate Dean Zhiwen Yin in Shanghai for an introductory meeting. One of the programs that interested Fudan officials is the new full-time MBA program now under development at the UofL College of Business. Since that program may be two years away, no agreements were created with Fudan, but mutual interest has been established.
     Fudan is a member of Universitas 21, an international consortium of research-driven universities. It is considered as one of the top five universities in China. The university has 29 schools and departments and more than 45,000 students, including continuing education and on-line education programs and more than 26,500 full-time degree candidates.
     Among Fudan’s offerings is a business program that actively incubates high-tech industries and encourages them to convert knowledge to power.
     For more information about College of Business study abroad opportunities, visit Business.louisville.edu/abroad.

(posted 10-10-08)