China Initiative

Building Bridges for Innovation, Leadership, and Educational Excellence

it develops new channels for educating students and executives, in both China and the United States. The GWSB China Initiative rethinks traditional approaches to business education in the Asian powerhouse. Central to the strategy are: t
Signature academic programs that apply business and management knowledge in new and meaningful ways t
Dynamic dialogue channels among a broad range of stakeholders and thought leaders within GW and throughout the greater business community t Entrepreneurial partnerships that bring unusual depth and relevance to this new educational model

GWSB is evolving from a national institution with a strong presence in the eld of global business into a school that is setting the standard for international education, collaboration and innovation far into the future. Its China Initiative stands as a critical step in this profound transformation.
For far too long, China has been viewed as elusive and unknowable occasionally dismissed, frequently misunderstood and often feared. Some people worry about its ideological opposition to democracy and its stiing of civil society. Others focus on its potential as a military threat or its power as a stirring economic goliath. But GWSB sees in China great opportunity. As the worlds second largest economy, China has become a magnet for foreign interest and investment, and it is experiencing an explosion of wealth. At the same time, it is committed to educating its citizens for their new and evolving roles in the coming century. U.S. universities enter this exceptional environment with a respected tradition of excellence in higher education. GWSB adds innovation to that reputation as

To achieve its educational vision, GWSB sought an academic partner and a geographic anchor. It found both in the city of Suzhou, home to Renmin University of China-International College (RUIC-IC) and the Suzhou Industrial Park, or SIP. The School of Business is working collaboratively with RUIC-IC to launch programs that benet students while also providing fresh opportunities for both universities. The partnership is entrepreneurial, allowing the universities and their students to break new ground as they develop closer ties and exchange critical knowledge. In its collaboration with the School of Business, RUIC-IC comes in contact with best practices in management education while opening the door for its students to explore new theories and ideas. For GWSB, the shared venture allows for the implementation of programs and initiatives that are only possible with an academic partner in China. The initiative launched with GWSBs introduction of established programs in nance and accountancy. The work is guided by how best to serve the needs of studentsin both China and the United Statesand allows administrators to leverage the knowledge and institutional resources of both schools. In choosing to build the campus within the SIP, GWSB becomes part of a dynamic academic and research cluster. Suzhou is not only a cultural and historic treasure, it is also home to key Chinese thought leaders in international engagement. As one of Chinas fastest-growing development zones, SIP has been able to bridge the divide between domestic and foreign investment. It ranks rst among Chinas empower-

ment zones in using foreign capital and in competitiveness; it is second among development zones for its investment environment. The GWSB campus at SIP is strategically situated in the clusters Dushu Lake Higher Education Zone. GWSB uses broad-based programming and cross-disciplinary partnerships to provide a platform for learning in Chinas growing higher education environment, harnessing the dynamic energy and enthusiasm of global thought leaders in business and international affairs.

Even as reform in China has proceeded at a gradual pace, the cumulative changes over two-and-a-half decades of economic reform have been nothing short of radical.
DOUG GUTHRIE
China and Globalization: The Social, Economic and Political Transformation of Chinese Society (Revised Edition)

GWs School of Business excels at attracting and retaining an exceptional faculty, and it continues to do so in China. These scholars have a genuine commitment to education and research and are exemplary at working across disciplines to nd answers to new and evolving questions. A key component of their work is to provide critical mentoring opportunities for students. By combining the primary task of higher educationthe generation and transfer of knowledgewith a commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the greater Suzhou region, GWSB is poised to make an unparalleled contribution to the international business community through its scholarship and its graduates.