This morning, The Financial Times of London released the 2008 edition of its annual rankings of International Executive MBA programs.  The Washington University-Fudan University EMBA program retained its coveted distinction as one of the top ten Executive MBA programs in the world, ranking 8th worldwide, and 1st in Mainland China for the third year in a row.

The Washington University-Fudan University Executive MBA Program is a joint educational venture between the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis and the School of Management at Fudan University in Shanghai and is now in its 8th year. Since its beginning, the program has focused on preparing the best international managers in China for global leadership positions. In this year’s rankings, the program’s students, alumni and faculty again distinguished themselves relative to the other nine programs in the top bracket of the rankings. Current salaries for the program’s alumni were ranked 4th in the world after adjusting for differences in purchasing power parity, and reached US$273,599 this year, equivalent to a 71% increase relative to their salaries at the time of graduation. Similarly, the program ranked No.4 in the world in terms of the level of internationalization of its faculty.

The Asian region, especially China, has moved more and more to the center of the world’s economy. Among the nine schools in the top group of EMBA programs this year, nearly 50% of them are active in Asia, crystal-clear evidence that Asia is becoming a global hub for management talent.  As a pioneer among mainland schools operating EMBA programs with overseas partners, the School of Management at Fudan University was one of the first schools to see this trend.  Its mission states: “Rooted in a Chinese business environment, we are committed to advancing both academic and applied research and sharing innovative ideas and thoughts. We also strive to develop professional managers, elite scholars and social leaders with global perspectives as well as local insights, and who contribute to economic growth and social development.”  In keeping with its mission, the school has moved quickly to integrate all levels of resources into a whole in order to develop excellent Chinese managers, some of who have already become leaders on the global economic stage.

Top-notch Student Quality

The success of Washington University-Fudan University EMBA Program is largely attributed to the top-notch student quality. Together, the students and the faculty in the program combine to provide a remarkably successful international development experience for China’s high potential international managers. According to Class 3 alumnus Maxwell MIAO, the Greater China Managing Director for QAD, a leading US-based ERP software provider: “The program really helped me to move from a country-based (China) professional with good local market know-how to a global business executive.  The depth and rigor of the program and the professionalism of the students, faculty, and staff really helped to prepare me to set our regional strategy in the context of global competition, not just local competition.  At my level, it’s really critical to align global resources and capabilities to achieve our stretch business goals in this dynamic emerging market.  I think that locally based managers are really fortunate to have a top 10 program here in Shanghai.  You can keep working during this critical time in China and still get a world-class education through the Washington University-Fudan University EMBA Program.”

Faculty Structure in Line with International Standards

Facing the challenges and opportunities presented by economic globalization, the School of Management at Fudan University looks at the process of “internationalization” as a crucial path toward realizing its mission and the social responsibilities bestowed upon it by our era.

The Washington University-Fudan University EMBA Program is just one of many initiatives that the school has taken in its efforts to build an open-minded, diversified, and front-running faculty team. The school has looked around the world for teaching talents and currently has approximately 40 faculty who are graduates of leading overseas universities, accounting for 30% of all faculty. The cumulated wealth of knowledge and far-sighted vision of these faculty are working to support the school’s globalization and sustain its education quality at a level that reaches the world’s top standards.

“Talent Incubator” for the World

Professor LU Xiongwen, Dean of the School of Management at Fudan University, sees this year’s rankings success as yet another step in a much bigger process at the School of Management. “Every time we achieve one step forward on our path to progress, it is because we are more than willing to learn from the world’s top business schools, in terms of systemic knowledge and up-to-date theories.  We are also partnering with other well-regarded business schools around the globe, getting involved in research and taking a proactive role in addressing the global issues of our day. As you might know, the ultimate development goal of our school is to contribute Chinese wisdom to the world and to cultivate top-notch talents among the future generation, something that I think is within the realm of responsibilities for us as a business school.  These days, the world is looking to Asia, especially China, for help.  Their message to us is clear.  We have a job to do in creating the best management talents for Asia, and the world too.  It is an honor and a mission for us.”

Professor James Little, Academic Director of the Washington University-Fudan University EMBA Program, adds: “Top universities have the best faculty resources and can produce second-to-none international programs. We take pride in our world-class professors.  Their combined wealth of academic vision and practical experiences are essential in helping today’s best managers grow into the global leaders we will need to solve the most pressing issues of our economy and society.  Through their growing collaborative efforts, which now extend well beyond their business schools, both Fudan University and Washington University are helping lead the charge in finding solutions to the problems of our day.”