Economy

Looking to Chinese for firm answers

By Yang Ning (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-01-31 16:20

Mary Brown (left), deputy managing director of Prudential Bank Ltd, raises a question during a class of the China Europe International Business School executive master of business administration (EMBA) program in Accra, the capital of Ghana. Brown was one of the first group of 40 students at the school's program in Africa. [Photo / China Daily]

BEIJING - It's a typical Saturday morning for the class studying to gain an executive master's degree in business administration (EMBA) in Accra, the capital of Ghana.

Some 40 African executives and entrepreneurs are engaged in a heated discussion about what enabled Mindray Medical International Limited, a Chinese medical devices maker, to become a global industry leader.

How relevant is a China case for students in Africa? "Very," said Ghanaian Deputy Minister of Energy Inusah Fuseini, who is one of the students on the inaugural course run by the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) EMBA program in Africa.

The Shanghai-based school launched its Africa EMBA program in March 2009. The project has so far enrolled two groups of students totaling 82 participants from Ghana, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Cameroon, as well as expatriates working in the region.

The third group of 50 students is being recruited for enrollment this spring.

Learning real life lessons from China was the most important reason Fuseini chose to study at CEIBS, the first and currently the only Chinese business school in Africa.

"I was interested in CEIBS more for the 'China' in the name of the school," he said.

His classmate, Richard Okyere-Fosu, associate director of Databank Financial Services Ltd, gave a nod.

"The China cases are extremely relevant for us. We appreciate that most of our learning is 'case-based', with an emphasis on cases set in China," said Okyere-Fosu.

He believes that the next industrial revolution is going to happen in Africa and the region's business leaders should look to and learn from China's example.

"In fact, many of our African students expressed the same idea. They admire China's rapid and impressive economic development over the past 30 years and they hope to see what lessons they can learn from China to emulate in Africa," Kwaku Atuahene-Gima, director of the CEIBS Africa Program, told China Daily.

Also, many of them not only show great interest in China, but also plan to expand their businesses in China or cooperate with Chinese companies, he added.

African countries' aggregate direct investment in China hit $9.93 billion at the end of 2009, according to a white paper on China-Africa economic and trade cooperation issued by the Chinese government in December.

China's investment in Africa has been growing rapidly since the country began to invest in the region in the 1980s and hit $9.33 billion by the end of 2009, said the white paper.

According to the school, all Africa-based EMBA students have to come to CEIBS' campus in Shanghai for their final module of classes for three weeks before graduation.

"We have seen many of the first group of students to graduate using their time in Shanghai to make connections with Chinese classmates because they hope to do business with China after they graduate," said Atuahene-Gima.

"Shanghai has been a pleasant surprise - much more modern than I expected," said Nigerian intermediate technology (IT) entrepreneur Folajimi Fadenipo, chief executive officer of Citygate Consulting Nigeria Limited.

During his time studying at Shanghai, he focused on soaking up information on his field - IT and education.

"My field is technology. China has changed the world in such a short time. If only we in Africa can wake up to the challenges and see that there are many opportunities," he said.

One of the key factors in the early stages of China's economic transformation was recognition of the importance of business management education. As Africa undergoes its own transformation, it, too, will need strong business leaders.

"Companies from all over the world - including China - are investing in Africa now, especially in Ghana and surrounding countries. These international companies have a high demand for people who are internationally savvy and well-trained executives," he said.

CEIBS' goal, in Africa, is to prepare highly competent, innovation-oriented business executives and government leaders, as well as the traditional chieftains, according to the school.

In keeping with that goal, in addition to the EMBA program, the school last year began offering shorter, company-specific courses custom-designed for corporations that want to train their African employees.

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In the first quarter of this year, the school will launch executive development programs in Africa, including management development courses for traditional authorities, family businesses and female entrepreneurship, as well as a diploma in healthcare management.

One of the most innovative new courses caters to Africa's traditional tribal leaders. The class for traditional authorities will cater to the needs of tribal chiefs and their administrators.

Atuahene-Gima said Africa's traditional tribal leaders play a very important role in economic development because they can address crucial problems including land use, establish community-based volunteer groups and promote local social responsibility.

"All the new courses are very bold ideas, but we have to try," he said.

"If we can provide valuable management courses that meet the special needs of Africa, this would be a huge uplift in the economy of the region.

"I hope one day, people will look back and say these programs from a Chinese business school really made a difference in Africa."

In particular, Atuahene-Gima looks forward to building an alumni base of business leaders ready to promote economic development in Africa, and to build China-Africa ties.

Pedro Nueno, president of CEIBS, told China Daily: "Things have changed in this global world. Africa has top managers with gratitude to China because a Chinese institution is helping them to be more competitive, more honest, more professional - and better international managers."

If China continues to do things in Africa and does them well, Africa can be another guarantor for the development of China as a world champion, he said.