MBA students experience innovation on study tour in China

MBA and EMBA students from RMIT’s Graduate School of Business and Law visited Haining and Hangzhou in collaboration with Zhejiang University International Business School (ZIBS).

The inaugural tour, which focused on innovation, sustainability and cross-cultural intelligence, saw the students visit key leading companies in China such as e-commerce and technology giant, Alibaba; electric vehicle manufacturer, Geely; bio-tech start-up platform, BioClub; eco-manufacturing sports sock producer, Future Stitch; and the start-up incubator of ZIBS, Zheya.

The students were also invited to a joint class with ZIBS international MBA students on corporate responsibility and ethics, and a Youth Dialogue led by Professor Shenglin Ben, ZIBS Dean and former HSBC and JP Morgan chief executive.

During the tour, students were immersed in rich cultural experiences, including tea tastings, calligraphy, visits to cultural towns of Wuzhen, Nanguanxiang, and the Impression Westlake Show.

EMBA student, Nikita Shulin, said the experience stood out as a benchmark for cultural study tours.

“The cultural experiences, consisting of both historical landmarks and an abundance of exceptional cuisine, allowed us to enhance our understanding of China's rich history, traditions, and way of life,” he said.

“The business part of this visit to China presented us with the opportunity to visit giant global corporations, helping us to expand our professional network, build strong relationships, and discover how businesses in China operate.”

Group of people standing at the bottom of stairs holding a red flag.

The MBA and EMBA students visited the headquarters of e-commerce and technology giant, Alibaba, as part of the study tour.

In addition to networking with Australian alumni and business leaders, and executives in key industries, students were given opportunities to network with local MBA students.

Laura Mulherin, an EMBA student, said the trip was a wonderful mix of culture and high-quality business visits.

“It was terrific meeting and spending time with the ZIBS students, as well as all the other generous and friendly people we met,” she said.

This trip was a fabulous learning opportunity, and I feel I have a better understanding of Chinese culture and the business environment from our short visit.

Associate Professor Ling Mei Cong, Deputy Dean of Learning and Teaching in the Graduate School of Business and Law, said it was a privilege for her to lead the tour to China.

“The tour is an excellent opportunity for our students to develop a global mindset and witness firsthand how emerging global brands in China grow, delving deep into their innovation and sustainability strategies,” she said.

“It enables them to critically analyse how these companies build their ecosystems to embrace global opportunities and address challenges such as those brought by climate change, digital transformation, and cultural barriers.”

This tour was the first activity since RMIT and ZIBS signed an MOU last year, and the College of Business and Law look forward to hosting students from China later this year.

Find out more about our postgraduate business courses here.

12 June 2024

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MBA students experience innovation on study tour in China