Birmingham-Jinan MBA programme launches

The University of Birmingham (UK) and Jinan University (China) have joined forces to nurture management talent in and around South China as they launch the latest version of the Birmingham MBA.

The Birmingham-Jinan MBA is a part-time executive programme run by Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham and the School of Management, Jinan University, Guangzhou.

The programme is taught in English jointly by faculty from Birmingham Business School, who travel to Guangzhou to deliver modules and Jinan School of Management, who will be teaching a number of elective modules. The latest research ideas are incorporated into the programme to ensure relevant and up-to-date learning. On successful completion of the course, students will be awarded an MBA degree from the University of Birmingham and a certificate of completion from Jinan University.

The programme is led by Professor Derek Condon, Director of Postgraduate Taught Programmes, Birmingham Business School. Professor Condon taught the first module – International Business – with students from a variety of backgrounds and nationalities. He said:

“The launch of the Birmingham-Jinan programme establishes a competitive MBA program for senior managers of Chinese and international companies in South China. It does this by integrating resources from both Birmingham Business School and the Jinan School of Management, institutions that both enjoy a long history and strong reputation.

“With four intakes per year, we expect the programme to become very popular with both local and international students, who want to be based in South China while experiencing and benefiting from a UK, Russell Group, qualification.”

One of the first students to enrol on the Birmingham MBA in China is Zach Wortham, Director of Manufacturing Operations at Skullcandy, an American lifestyle audio brand. Zach has been living and working in South China for eight years and oversees an office of 50 staff. Commenting on the Birmingham MBA, Zach said:

“The University of Birmingham and Jinan MBA programme represents a unique and special opportunity to learn from some of the world’s most experienced business minds, while based in the heart of the industrial workhorse that is South China. Add to that the high quality of the support staff and impressive calibre of the students who are signing up and you can see why it was an easy decision to choose the Birmingham MBA programme.”

The opening ceremony on Thursday 11 September was attended by Professor Derek Condon, Director of Postgraduate Programmes, Birmingham Business School; Professor Di Deng, Assistant Dean, Director of MBA Programmes, School of Management, Jinan University; Peter Clack, Director International Relations at University of Birmingham; and Vivian Yingyi Zheng, China Director of Operations, University of Birmingham Guangzhou Centre.

The Birmingham MBA’s latest incarnation in Guangzhou follows 21 years of successful delivery in Singapore. The programme has also been running in Hong Kong since 2002 and is delivered as part of a collaborative provision arrangement with the Open University, Hong Kong (OUHK).

ENDS

Notes to Editors

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• Find more information about studying at the Birmingham MBA in China.
• Jinan University is one of the oldest universities in China and is one of the country’s 211 key national universities. Jinan University has been active at academic exchanges, and has established academic cooperation or academic exchange liaison with 252 universities and research institutes in Asia, America, Europe, and Oceania. The School of Management of Jinan University has more than 95 years of business education history and is accredited by AMBA. 
• The University of Birmingham’s aims with China include developing joint research, promoting education and engagement. To this end the University has established a centre in Guangzhou to host its activities in China, and the China Institute at the University of Birmingham to gather together their wide-ranging research activities with Chinese partners and concerning China more generally.
• The University of Birmingham was named The Times and The Sunday Times University of the Year 2013/14.
• The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions, its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 4,000 international students from nearly 150 countries.