More expat MBAs arrive

OF the 146 new IMBA students starting their courses at Shanghai's Fudan University this month, Jeremiah Klomp may be the most unusual -- he's a captain in the US Air Force.

``Actually, I had received quite a number of invitations from other universities and colleges. The reasons why I chose Fudan are I love the city, Shanghai, and I want to know more about Chinese culture,'' Jeremiah said.

He is studying in the IMBA Progamme, run jointly by the University of Hong Kong and Fudan.

``After working for ten years, I feel the challenge so that I decided to come back to school to recharge. The study of local cases in Fudan is very important to my present work,'' said Tsai Chikeung from Hongkong, who started a company in Shanghai in 1999.

``Our international students have continued to grow in recent years. Many of them have been involved in or plant to start business activities in the city,'' said Huang Cheng, senior assistant to the programme's director.

In the city's business schools, more and more international faces can be seen, thanks to the booming economy in China and the great business potential of Shanghai, an emergining financial hub of Asia.

Statistics from the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) reveal that among the students recruited last June, 20 per cent were international students. Some had graduated from prestigious Western universities such as Oxford, Cornell and the University of California.

``That shows that our MBA programme has gained global recognition for its international-level courses and staff,'' said Phowbe Li, the communication manager for CEIBS.

``And most importantly, they are attracted to China for the strength of its economy. ''

Sponsored by the US military's Olmsted Scholarship, Jeremiah will spend the next two years at Fudan. The father of three children also brings his family to live in Pudong.

He is serving in the USAF until 2008 and then he has plans for the future: ``I hope I will come to China to start a business after my military service.