In fall of 2022, 8 students from China enrolled in the Cambridge College Online MBA program. Although they were working as middle and senior management professionals and business owners, they were able to balance the coursework with their full-time jobs and family life.
“The program is rigorous,” admitted Dr. Paul Chao, program chair. “The adult students had to learn a different way of learning and thinking than what they’re used to.”
The program is taught in English, but the students get academic support in Mandarin. After one or two courses, they adjusted and began to thrive. Seven of the 8 students earned straight A’s throughout the program.
“They were motivated to learn so they could improve their careers and businesses,” explained Dr. Chao. The pride is evident on Dr. Chao’s face as he talks about his former students and their accomplishments. He added, “Not only did we stay in touch after their graduation, we’re writing a book together!” Indeed, Dr. Chao and China MBA students Xiaoching Chen, Lexia Zhang, and Zhongyu Yuan have co-authored a textbook entitled: ESG: Environmental, Social and Governance, which is presently being edited for finalization and publishing.
Since the program’s inaugural cohort, 13 additional Chinese students have graduated from the Chinese MBA program, while 24 more are currently making their way through it. Looking forward to this November, 15 new students are slated to begin their own career-changing journey.
“During the Cambridge College MBA program, especially the group learning, I developed a lot of project management skills that will increase my leadership and management effectiveness. The weekly writing assignments helped me to clarify my thinking logic, which has helped me improve my design work.”
Why is this program so attractive to students from China? There are a number of reasons. While a U.S. MBA is a prestigious degree on any resume, the Cambridge College program teaches high-level achievement skills. Students don’t learn from textbooks in this program. Instead, they learn how to think critically, gather and analyze data, and make good decisions based on facts. They learn how to work in groups, discuss important topics through extensive collaboration with fellow students, and solve problems creatively. They’re pushed to a higher level of academic achievement than they’ve operated at before. And they rise to the challenge.
“So far, I have come to understand and master new approaches to leadership, operations, supply chain management, global strategy and much more. I have gained a solid theoretical foundation that I can apply to my current position,” shared Li Yang, a Factory Manager at Hunan Jiapin Jiwei Biotechnology Co., LTD. He added, “As the program continues, I’m excited to further develop my strategic thinking and learn to translate technical insights into practical business strategies to cope with the rapidly changing market environment.”
The students, both male and female, have an average age of about 42. They appreciate the ability to earn an MBA without having to quit their jobs and attend school full-time or leave China. The 5-week long courses were designed for working professionals and offer lots of scheduling flexibility along with an award-winning, interactive online platform. The innovative program is completed in 16 months.
Program Chair Dr. Chao is working on another book with a student from the second Chinese MBA cohort, Qingyun Zhang. This book, Crisis Management, is scheduled to be completed by January 2025.
Learn more about the Cambridge College Chinese MBA