The Paris-based HEC has strengthened its efforts to provide more management training to help Chinese senior executives by teaming up with the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission under the State Council (SASAC) to start an EMBA programme in China.

"It is indeed the first time that the SASAC has selected a foreign business school to deliver an EMBA to its senior executives," said Joshua Kobb, director of International Programmes at Executive Education for HEC Paris. "Although SASAC was very demanding in their selection process, our quality of teaching and the fact that we are appreciated as providing added value over the US approach were strong points in our favour."

In addition, the fact that HEC is also working closely with Tsinghua University in other areas and is familiar with the quality and standards of Chinese teaching was also appreciated.

HEC brings the international perspective and the global mindset that leaders need to pilot their organizations in an increasingly complex global market, he said.

"Many of our participants come from companies that will become leading global organizations. So we need to help these senior executives understand the Western perspective; how we do business, how we make decisions and how we operate," the director added.

HEC applies international teaching methods and the curriculum teaches the same skills and issues it teaches to all of its executive programmes.

Facing a growing need for more executive education in China, HEC would also like to offer more company-specific custom-designed programmes in the country, an area in which HEC has significant experience. The institution has a long history in France and Europe and enjoys a strong international reputation.

"Though the EMBA programme targets mainly State-owned enterprises (SOEs), the SASAC has opened it to executives coming from private companies as well," said the director.

That is why the programme is customized in both the delivery format and the content. As teaching is in English, translation and interpretation are available. HEC makes use of local teachers to help bridge some of the communication and cultural differences. The content is clearly geared towards senior managers.

"Though we provide some of the specific skills they need, the EMBA is a generalist programme which aims to also provide the vision that leaders require to be successful," he said. "We are not teaching how to do business in China, but rather, what the Chinese need to know to do business on an international level."

Participants will learn Western accounting principals, strategic marketing, organizational behaviour, logistics and supply chain management and finance from the programme. Topics such as governance and change management will also be addressed. Business leaders and economists will also regularly address the class.

"As educators, our role is not to solve management problems but to provide tools and concepts to allow decision-makers to find their own solutions to problems they face," he said.

HEC does not impose one model of management. But with the keys HEC provides, managers will be able to make better decisions, in whichever situation they may find themselves.

In this regard, the SASAC will also address the situation and make improvements in SOE management.

"Private-sector managers will benefit from the programme's general management approach, and will create relationships with executives from other companies," he said.

"I think the challenges that SOEs may be facing, revolving around governance, performance management, change management and leveraging innovation are common to many companies, both SOE and private," he said. "So the programme is tailored to meet the needs of individuals from both."

"The experience of managers from private enterprises will certainly be beneficial to managers from SOEs. And private enterprise participants will appreciate the networking potential of all their classmates. I think this mix adds even greater diversity to the student body, and enriches the programme and the experience," he said.

It is true that, for some participants, the international approach to teaching, relying on participation, group work and discussion, is surprising at first. But the academic and professional qualifications of these participants are very impressive.

"The HEC team, including professors and myself, greatly appreciate everyone's openness and willingness to learn new things. We felt it important to maintain our approach," he said.

The EMBA programme in China is a rare opportunity for participants to better understand the Western mindset and to acquire international business skills. There is a need in China for this type of programme, and HEC is providing the highest quality training, he added.

(China Daily 10/25/2006 page21)