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Chinese Students Prefer Learning Business Practices on U.S. Campus Chinese students study American business practices at Texas Tech
By KARA ALTENBAUMER Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
After 21/2 weeks at Texas Tech, Zhang Jin Zhi said American higher education is superior to Chinese.
''In Chinese class, we all listen to the teacher. In American class, we communicate with the teacher. We can use our brains,'' he said. ''American is better. In Chinese class, we learn more knowledge, but in American class, we learn to practice it.''
Zhang and 50 of his co-workers from SEPCO, a power company in the Chinese province of Shandong, are spending the summer in Lubbock learning American business practices. The students, all engineers in their late 20s, are taking marketing and accounting courses. If all goes well, they may be able to earn MBAs from Tech through a distance learning program after they return to China.
The engineers, acutely aware of China's emergence as one of the hottest world markets, are 51 of the best and brightest their company has to offer, said their marketing professor Debra Laverie. They've been hand-picked to lead SEPCO into the 21st century.
''These are the best of the best. When you interact with them, they think very globally,'' Laverie said. ''They know China is the most important market. They also know that the Asian economy has been shaky, but that China's has remained strong. They know China is not interested in doing business in just Asia.''
In addition to learning American business practices, the students are learning how to do business in the United States.
''This class is very helpful in improving my ability to communicate with people outside of China,'' Zhang Weidong said. ''The Chinese economy is changing very fast. We hope to build relationships between Chinese and Americans.''
Liu Guang Yan, whom classmates point to as the leader of the group, said, ''We need a lot of people who are professionals and a lot of people who have management skills for the development of SEPCO.''
Another classmate, Zhang Heirong, said he's glad his company has reacted quickly to China's changing economics. ''It is most important to our country.
''This new knowledge opens our eyes. We will use it to go back and make our SEPCO a great company.''
Laverie said the class has been eye-opening for her as well. Class is scheduled to end at 9:45 a.m., but the students often continue asking questions until their accounting class starts at 10:10 a.m.
''They are incredibly driven and very hungry to learn,'' Laverie said. ''They want to take in every bit of knowledge.''
She had initially worried about how they would do on tests, considering language barriers and the difference in concepts between American and Chinese marketing practices. But on their first exam, 17 of the 51 had perfect scores. Only one or two of Laverie's typical American students do that, she said.
She said the students are taking full advantage of American-style education, eagerly giving their opinions and participating in class discussion, something the students say is rare in their native schools.
After their classes end in late August, the students will spend two more weeks visiting Lubbock businesses and then take an English proficiency exam.
Business dean Roy Howell said Tech wants to begin offering classes to the students at their company this fall. Most of the coursework would be taught through interactive distance learning equipment, such as the Internet and satellite transmissions. And some Tech professors would travel to China to teach short courses.
Laverie said its likely the idea will become a reality because of the support it has at Tech.
''As a business school, we are trying to become more international,'' she said. ''This is the kind of program that could being important recognition to Tech's business school.''
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