From Singapore to Switzerland, Australia to Austria, there’s a wide variety of MBA study locations across the globe. Each offers its own culture and learning environment, which is why many students choose to go global when enrolling in their MBAs.
China ranks among those study destinations that can offer a unique experience to international students. Boasting impressive cities and home to top multinational companies as well as high-ranking business schools, China has long attracted international students.
So, what exactly are the unique opportunities you’ll gain during an MBA in China? BusinessBecause spoke with students and alumni from the MBA program at Peking University (PKU) Guanghua School of Management to find out.
1. Build a diverse network
Enrolling in an MBA degree in China allows you the opportunity to cultivate relationships with an array of different people.
Professors who teach on the PKU Guanghua MBA, for example, include experts across a range of fields—78% hold PhDs from leading overseas universities. The school regularly invites industry experts to deliver guest lectures to students; past speakers have included former British prime minister David Cameron, and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.
“I am actively engaging in various different events organized by the school, including conferences, guest lectures, and gatherings,” explains Jalaluddin Mannagalli, a current student on the program.
Jalaluddin left his home in Indonesia to enroll in the PKU Guanghua MBA, he feels these networking opportunities have been pivotal throughout his experience: “They allow me to connect with experienced professionals, faculty members, and alumni who can provide access to a diverse range of perspectives and experience,” he adds.
Equally important within your MBA network are the connections you can build with your fellow students during discussions and coursework. This is particularly true within a cohort composed of students with different cultural and professional backgrounds.
There are more than 20 regions represented within the PKU Guanghua MBA cohort, with students holding experience in sectors ranging from finance and consulting, to manufacturing and healthcare.
“I had the opportunity to meet people from around the world,” explains Rafael Rezende Macedo, who graduated from the program in 2022. “Working with students all around the world, all of them focused on bridging China with the culture in their countries, was something that really opened my mind.”
2. Broaden your cultural horizons
The cultural awareness developed through mixing with other students from different regions during your MBA is only enhanced while studying in a new environment with its own heritage and traditions.
For example, China is renowned for having a distinctive business culture, founded on Confucian principles that emphasize the importance of loyalty, courtesy, and modesty, and therefore prioritizing relationship-building.
Gift giving is valued as significantly more important in China than in the Western world, where greater emphasis is placed on handshakes, for example. Developing an awareness of such cultural nuances can prepare you for global career opportunities.
The PKU Guanghua MBA therefore encourages students to grow their cultural understanding via exposure to opportunities such as consulting projects with real companies and immersive visits to local firms.
“I’ve learned that the business culture in Beijing is very much relationship-based, so it’s very important to learn the customs of conducting business and how it plays a role in forging strong relationships,” says Pensiri Naviroj, a student from Thailand currently enrolled in the program.
For Rafael, these experiences later helped him work in a globally-oriented role after graduating from the program. "It helped me a lot to get where I am now in the top leadership," he explains. “When I entered the company I could help overcome several cultural barriers.
3. Advance your business skills
Of course, for many students, the primary reason for enrolling in an MBA program is to enhance their business knowledge and skills. A fundamental understanding of business concepts—ranging from finance to organizational behavior and strategy management—can prepare students for the wide range of career paths available to them after graduation.
The PKU Guanghua MBA emphasizes both a theoretical and practical approach to learning. While students refine their knowledge within the classroom, they also get ample opportunity to put their learnings into practice through group tasks and business simulations.
“The curriculum is designed to provide pragmatic experiences that test and improve professional competencies,” explains Hong Po Kat, a former investment banker currently studying the program.
“These applied experiences have equipped me with the confidence and skills required to thrive amidst future career challenges.”
Ultimately, the combination of an expanded network and a more refined understanding of cultural nuances and business knowledge provides MBA students with a winning recipe when it comes to seizing opportunities after graduation.
In China, and particularly in key cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, career opportunities are enhanced by the presence of large numbers of large and midsize companies. Firms ranging from major Chinese businesses like Alibaba and Tencent to multinationals like Bain & Company and Accenture all hire from the PKU Guanghua MBA.
For Rafael, who has embarked on a successful career in the energy sector since graduating, he feels the MBA curriculum and learning approach of the PKU Guanghua MBA prepares students to make an impact once they leave the program and enter these companies.
“Professors were saying to us: ‘You guys are not here to learn how to answer questions; we are going to prepare you to be leaders of the world’.”