Businesses all over the world are meeting tremendous challenges in this very tough economic climate. The Global recession is making many of the assumptions and strategies from yesterday invalid and making business leaders re-think their entire business strategies and operations. Never is a better time to consider the time to return to University for advanced education.

The time is here for you to consider an MBA at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The students are a melting pot of both Chinese and foreign students. The views and opinions in the classes open up a wide variety of ideas, both from a Chinese view and a foreign view.

Because of the wide variety of students and industries involved, this also opens up longer term opportunities for personal relationships and"guanxi"that will help the graduates as they grow into bigger jobs and positions in China. There is a core of contacts that students can call on for advice as they have increasingly challenging jobs.

The courses also offer a variety of different Professor experiences, Chinese and Foreign professors, as well as academic and professional business experience. The combination of academic and professional business experiences makes for a unique mix not found in most MBA programs.

And Shanghai Jiao Tong University has a variety of MBA programs to meet your specific needs.

The International MBA program is tailored to English speaking students who are prepared for a full-time MBA program over two years. This program is an excellent program for cross cultural exchanges that features many first class foreign professors.

The Executive MBA program is tailored to students for a two year program, with class attendance required once per month for a 4 day period. The class is attended by many senior business leaders looking to broaden their vision and exposures as they attempt new strategies or execution of new operations ideas learning from the global exposure of ideas.

And there are the standard part-time MBA programs in Chinese for those students who want to update management concepts in the changing global business environment.

- Started in 2001, MBA in Management of Technology cultivates the advanced management talents of Hi-tech industry.

- Started in 2001,General MBA cultivates the management talents and professional managers with international economic visions, modern theory and technique of management.

- Started in 2003, MBA in Finance and Investment cultivates the advanced management talents of Financial and Risk Investment.

Now is a great time to return to school for an MBA. The education gained here will prepare you for the future challenges of this difficult economic climate.

By Charles M. McIntyre, Visiting Professor of SJTU IMBA Program, Former Chairman of GE China