Harvard ManageMentor launches for Chinese learners

In an effort to tap into the growing demand for soft skills, including multi-language communications from younger generations, Wall Street English and Harvard Business Publishing have jointly launched an upgraded course, Harvard ManageMentor, for Chinese learners on Wednesday in Shanghai.

Having bilingual versions of Chinese and English, the upgraded program is accessible on a smart phone application.

"In China, the opportunity is almost mind-boggling in terms of the large number and growing number of students who want to learn English," said David Kedwards, global CEO of Wall Street English.

Wall Street English has up to 1 million students in the country since its entry into China market in 2000, Kedwards said. It operates 78 learning centers in 11 Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen.

"Our largest market is here in China….The opportunities in China are obviously big, with its huge growing population, its strong emerging middle class. China is now the world's second largest economy, … and of course, English being the global language, we see the demand for English being huge," Kedwards said.

"We have taken Harvard ManageMentor and adapted it for the China market," said Vinay Hebbar, senior vice-president of international markets, Harvard Business Publishing.

In addition to the full version, the course is adapted with local insights in each module, and developed the mobile phone app for learners in China, Hebbar said.

The program covers 41 essential modules for leadership development and it includes 650 videos.