Summer Travel Program
Entrepreneurship in the U.S. and China
About the Program
China, now home to over 1.3 billion people and the world’s third-largest economy, has become increasingly important as a market for, and source of, goods and services in all sectors. 21st-century managers need to understand the risks and benefits of doing business in China. In an ever-more globalized world economy, managers at all levels need to understand different ways of doing business in dissimilar cultures and adopt "best practices" in marketing, finance, and operations from around the world.
This course will offer students an in-depth look at how business is conducted in China, the impact of Chinese culture on business practice, and potential business opportunities there. We will visit three "capital" cities in China: Beijing, the current Chinese capital and the political and cultural center of the country; Shanghai, the financial capital and one of the most dynamic cities in the world at the moment (also holding the 2010 World Expo); and Shenzhen, a city known for a high concentration of Chinese immigrants, many well-known Chinese companies, and a ranking in China as #1 in City Competitiveness.
During our visit in China, we will enjoy unique cultural tours (Great Wall, The Forbidden City) as well as visit Chinese and multinational corporations in different industries and interview the executives of those corporations.
This course will be taught by UMass Boston Professor Raymond Liu who successfully led the class in China for the last three summers.
Upon returning to Boston, students might visit corresponding American firms to compare business practices and identify culturally specific strategies and procedures. Students are not expected to have any knowledge of Chinese and will receive extensive orientation before leaving for China.
Academic Credit
Participants can earn three elective credits in the UMass Boston MBA Program. This course will count toward a specialization of your choice (depending on the topic of your final project) and will satisfy the International Business requirement.
In addition, all the students who assign this course can earn three more credits by taking an independent study course with Professor Raymond Liu.