LSU Modern Chinese Business and Culture Program opens new doors for students
Twenty Honors College pre-freshmen joined 18 master’s of business administration (MBA) students and five LSU undergraduates in a summer 2006 trip to China as part of LSU’s innovative new program, Modern Chinese Business and Culture. These young Tigers jumped straight from high school graduation to the streets of Beijing, Xi-an, and Shanghai. Along the way, they expanded their worldviews, made new friends before college, and had the experience of a lifetime.
The program is a collaborative effort between LSU’s E. J. Ourso College of Business, the Honors College, and the College of Arts and Sciences. This is the third trip to China for the College of Business’s MBA program. Two other trips were made in March and September of 2005. Although the trip was combined this year, pre-freshmen and MBA students will most likely have separate trips next year.
But why China? There are a number of reasons, a few of which include:
- China is the nation’s No. 2 trading partner, falling just behind Canada;
- China is Louisiana’s No. 1 trading partner;
- China is an up-and-coming economic powerhouse;
- Students can witness capitalism forming out of communism; and
- There are many interesting places to go site seeing in China.
“I feel like I have a better understanding of a way of life that is
very different, though no less valid, than my own. I have become aware of
my own ignorance regarding my own spoiled life and of how other people have
to live, and this has made me want to learn about more cultures to expand
my understanding of the human experience. Also, I’ve decided I want
to minor in international studies and now want whatever career I end up
choosing to be directly involved with travel to other countries.”
--Kenton Thibaut
Summer 2006
The students embarked on a two-week Discovery Tour of China.Throughout the tour, they attended lectures on subjects such as business and education and found time to visit the sites. Aside from visiting three different cities, two universities, climbing the Great Wall, attending the Chinese Opera and a Kung Fu show, seeing Tiananmen Square, the Terra Cotta Warriors museum, the Forbidden City, the Three Gorges Dam, a Hutong, and the Children’s Palace; students also sampled the food, went shopping, visited Chinese night clubs, and rode in a rickshaw. In other words, they got the total China experience.
“As the two weeks marched on, I did things I never envisioned myself doing: climbed the Great Wall and enjoyed the view from the top, shopped and bartered with the local merchants, rode a rickshaw through a Hutong, ate a total of 17 different stuffed dumplings in one sitting, explored the famous Three Gorges Dam, ate Kentucky Fried Chicken in Shanghai, and awoke at 3 a.m. to a monstrous fireworks show half of a mile away from our hotel. Each and every one of these experiences changed my perception of China, and they also changed me.”—Abby Regan
Although the program’s topic is business-related, students of all majors are encouraged to participate. For example, after listening to a Best Buy representative discuss big business tactics in China, pre-freshman Margy Looney confessed; “I first viewed business as a topic really over my head and something that couldn’t really appeal to me. However, after the lecture I came to realize that many topics of business are common sense after all.”
Aside from business, students observed China’s culture, history,
engineering, language, architecture, and commerce. The purpose of the program
is to broaden students’ worldviews, not to limit them to one or a
few topics.
One aspect of the trip that surprised some students was the language barrier, or lack thereof. Once in China, pre-freshman Abby Regan quickly amended her assumption that she would have difficulty communicating with the Chinese. “It appeared that China’s youth knows as much English as the rest of the world. Evidently, the school systems begin teaching it at an early age,” explained Regan. She also noted how hospitable they were despite the fact that she was not able to speak their native language. “The Chinese population presented itself as a perfect host to an American not educated in Chinese.”
One site that thoroughly impressed the group was the Three Gorges Dam.
“I enjoyed the Yangtze River cruise through the Three Gorges because it was both relaxing and informative,” said pre-freshman Bobby Forest. “There were lectures on different aspects of China throughout the cruise. Each day we went on an excursion to see various sights. The gorges themselves were magnificent.”
Pre-freshman Rebecca Lemoine added that, “seeing the dam in person made me truly appreciate the engineering and labor. Never have I seen anything so beautiful as the Three Gorges.”
After being lectured on the rigors of Chinese education and the competition to get into college, students were taken to see the artistic aspects of student life at the Children’s Palace. There, they interacted with some of the students, who ranged in age from five to 16 years old.
“At the Children’s Palace, I was in awe at the children’s level of skill in music, art, and dance,” said Lemonine. Dancing with the girls made me so happy! My smile was not 98 percent or 99 percent genuine; it was 100 percent genuine – with my whole heart smiling as well.”
While they were there, students noted signs of Communism as well as those of Capitalism.
“Communist qualities that were typical included the complete lack of variety. Everything is so monotonous,” said pre-freshman Carly Burt. “There were very few varieties of cars, colors of buildings, types of bicycles … the people are given limited choices.”
On the other hand, Forest said that, “before going to China, I expected Chinese business to display a socialist nature. However upon my arrival in China, I discovered that the socialist economy was hardly apparent. I was aware that capitalism was emerging in China, but I was not aware to what degree. It felt like I was in a totally capitalistic economy.”
One aspect of the trip that students thoroughly appreciated was making new friends.
“I know my greatest gained advantage is 20 wonderful friendships within the Honors College,” said pre-freshman Peter Hubbs. “I now enter LSU without the burden of loneliness, and that alone makes the program a wonderful opportunity for any incoming freshmen.”
Don’t Miss Summer 2007
For next summer’s trip, the University hopes to have a Chinese business minor in place, making the China trip a requirement and worth class credit. The length of the trip is expected to be extended to three weeks instead of two to accommodate additional lectures and study groups. Also, the Modern Chinese Business and Culture trip will be separated from the MBA trip to give students an even more personalized experience. For more information, new and current honor students can contact Honors College advisor Jeremy Joiner at jjoine2@lsu.edu.
MBAs in China
“Before the trip, I was planning to major in psychology and minor in international studies. However, through this trip I have realized how much I love traveling and absorbing new cultures and I am therefore contemplating either changing my major to international studies or possibly double-majoring.” —Margy Looney
The MBA program is designed to afford MBA students an international business experience. They receive three hours of elective credit for the trip which counts toward their MBA. Seven of the MBA students stayed behind for an additional three weeks to attend a language institute at Fudan University, earning them another three hours of elective credit and the ability to speak conversational Chinese. For more information on the MBA China trip, new and current MBA students can contact MBA coordinator Jennifer Loftin at jloftin@lsu.edu.
Sandra Stepongzi | Student Writer |
LSU Office of Public Affairs
Fall 2006
