Russian EMBA and MBA Students On Road Trip to HKUST
China’s 2015 launch of the Belt and Road initiative to connect the Asian, European and African markets of the famed Silk Road has promised to open up business opportunities. But first, countries need to open up to each other and understand the lay of the land.
This winter, the School has hosted visits of EMBA and MBA students from Russia’s Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO to deepen their understanding of Chinese culture and the business environment here.
Some 50 EMBA students came in December to participate in sessions on “Innovations in Hong Kong and China” by Professor Xu Yan and “Current Economic/Political Developments in Hong Kong and China” by Professor Francis Lui. HKUST’s Vice-President for Institutional Advancement, Dr Eden Woon, also shared the story behind the University’s success.
In February, SKOLKOVO’s MBA students visited for a week that included lectures on “Political, Economic and Technological Factors in China” by Professor Lin Yi-min, “Social Factors in China” by Professor Bilian Sullivan, “Financial Systems in Hong Kong and China” by Professor Jerome Yen and “Marketing in China” by Mr Michael Yeung. SKOLKOVO also organized a scavenger hunt to introduce students to Chinese culture, as well as company visits in Hong Kong and China.
Webinar Series
A new webinar series has been launched by the Executive Education Office where past program participants and potential learning partners can update their business know-how and access research findings from any location.
The 30-minute webinars are scheduled at lunchtime in Hong Kong. Everyone is welcome to tune in.
Professor Joseph Salvacruz kicked off the series with a webinar on “Winning Marketing Battles Through Customer Experience Management”. He shared best customer experience practices of leading companies.
A second webinar on 18 January was on “Platform Disruptions – Threats or Opportunities for Traditional Business”. Professor Tat Koon Koh discussed the key characteristics of multisided platforms, the industries in which platforms could play significant roles, and the options for existing players in these industries.
Flagship Program Trains Over 1,000 HKSAR Officers
The School´s Management Development Program (MDP) has reached a milestone of training more than 1,000 officers from 30 different areas of the HKSAR government since its launch in 2000.
The flagship program offers tailor-made sessions to address the needs of officers in middle to senior management and features sessions taught by HKUST’s own faculty members.
Between September 2016 and January this year, the 26th and 27th classes were held for a total 86 government officers from 19 departments. Each class completed a nine-day program that covered teambuilding and problem solving by external consultants; managerial decision making by Professor Caroline Wang of the Department of Management; leadership and change management by Professor Jean Vanhoegaerden from Ashridge Executive Education at Hult International Business School; crisis and stress management by Professor Hilton Chan, Department of ISOM; and negotiation by Professor Stephen Nason, Department of Management.
A celebration dinner was also held on campus for participants on 11 January, officiated by the Dean, Professor Tam Kar Yan where 19 senior managers from various governmental departments were invited to present certificates to their colleagues.
The Executive Education Office also offers a Leadership Development Program (LDP) for middle managers, which was launched in 2013, and recently hosted the fourth class for the government and related organizations.
Some 29 government officers from seven departments received training that aims to help them to become effective and inspiring team leaders who can help their teams to meet new challenges in an increasingly complex environment. The four-day program including sessions on leading for performance by Professor Mitya New, Department of Management; team communications by Ms Paula Ho, an experienced consultant; creative thinking by Professor Hilton Chan, Department of ISOM, and managerial decision making by Professor Bilian Sullivan, Department of Management.
More such programs will continue to be offered in 2017.