The economic slowdown has brought markets drastically lower, but has lead noted business school HEC Paris to a "promising" future in China and even globally.

"As China expands its role in the world economy, we are in a unique position to develop the professionals that will lead to the success of Chinese firms," Joshua Kobb, director of international development and strategic partnerships with the school told China Daily.

The school has topped the Financial Times' European business school rankings for the past three consecutive years due to its faculty and management programs.

Its master's degree management program has been ranked No 1 in Europe for the last four years, its "Trium" Global Executive MBA third in the world and its MBA No 9 worldwide by the Wall Street Journal.

The school is not resting on those laurels and "is developing its capacity to deliver off-site", Kobb said, adding that its partnership with China marks its first degree program outside its campus.

Following the success of its two classes of Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) program in China - HEC Paris is "looking forward to growing" in the country's education market.

The mission of the EMBA program in Beijing, offered under the auspices of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council in Beijing and the National Development and Reform Commission in Shanghai, is to strengthen technical expertise and leadership skills of executives in China to stimulate economic development and to facilitate China's further integration with the world economy.

(China Daily 05/08/2009 page6)