two MBA's in a row - one in English, the other in Mandarin.. Is it mad?

Alex555

5 10

Posted Mar 27, 2012 21:28

Hello guys,
Probably my situation is not typical. A business owner from Eastern Europe, 35 y.o., wishing to do business in China. Having been managing the small, 30 employees at the moment, business in the Russian-speaking world for 11 years (it?s a niche marketing research service), without a break, I feel the need to take some business theory, immerse myself in study environment and expand business thinking?.what I believe MBA is supposed to deliver. AND I wish to go further with current business ? bring it to China... The ?current business? is now in a better shape than before thanks to hard work and (good) market dynamics, so it might be able to afford careful expansion in 2 or 3 years. And if expansion, I am not interested in markets other than China ? just feel no interest to be there.
My dream has always been to set up a business in China. That?s why I started learning Mandarin 2 years ago and my teacher estimates my level between 2 and 3 grade HSK now. I didn?t work hard and could be much above that as of now.
So, that is the question. Given that:
1) There is a need to take theory - now
2) There is a plan to set up a business in China - later
Do You find this doable, practical and not totally insane to take TWO part-time MBA?s in a row (MBA, then EMBA), one in Europe and one almost immediately in China. More specifically:
1st stage: Take a 1,5 years part-time MBA program in Germany, in English. Goal ? CONTENT. Timing: October 2012 ? February 2014
2nd stage: Take a part-time EMBA in the Chinese language , somewhere like Tsinghua school or the like, provided they do have an EMBA in Chinese. Goal: immerse myself in the Chinese culture /environment and MAKE CONNECTIONS to help develop business ? without waiting for the graduation (probably several months after enrollment). Timing: somewhere near summer 2014.
In the meantime, I?d plunge into Mandarin real hard to attain 6th grade by end 2013 and read several of management theory books in the language prior to enrollment date.

Does anyone ever do two MBA one after the other? Does any white guy ever take MBA in Chinese..? Is it just too insane to invent all that..?

Please help me put an end to this dilemma.

Thanks a lot.

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cammy

16 31

Posted Mar 27, 2012 22:54

It does sound pretty mad and a waste of money.

Why don't you find a nice Chinese girl and get her to teach you?

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Alex555

5 10

Posted Mar 28, 2012 18:15

It does sound pretty mad and a waste of money.

Why don't you find a nice Chinese girl and get her to teach you?

Cammy, I have absolutely nothing against nice Chinese girls - quite the contrary. But my concern is rather whether it is worth investing time (including prior language learning time) and money into an EMBA just to make friends and get accustomed to local conditions, as well whether anyone ever does two mba's, one after the other.

<blockquote>It does sound pretty mad and a waste of money.

Why don't you find a nice Chinese girl and get her to teach you?</blockquote>

Cammy, I have absolutely nothing against nice Chinese girls - quite the contrary. But my concern is rather whether it is worth investing time (including prior language learning time) and money into an EMBA just to make friends and get accustomed to local conditions, as well whether anyone ever does two mba's, one after the other.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Mar 29, 2012 06:38

Why not take an English language MBA in China?p

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cammy

16 31

Posted Mar 29, 2012 09:15

Do a Global MBA in England and you are sure to meet a Chinese girl on it.

Send me the money you would pay for the second MBA and I will teach you British negotiation skills!

Seriously, though there are schools that let you take semesters overseas, particularly on part-time global programmes. China is the big growth area for these.

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Alex555

5 10

Posted Mar 29, 2012 16:18

Why not take an English language MBA in China?p

Exactly, Duncan, this is another strategy I consider. The problem is I simply didn't find any "modular" MBA program in China in the English language that would allow me to fly there for a week or two of intensive study and then come back home to work. They all seem to have classes on weekends/evenings every or almost every week, which I can't do.

The exception is BI-Fudan program (4 study days every 5 weeks), but they didn't reply to my e-mail with questions yet (their next start date of June 2012 is too soon :)).

For the first strategy - in 2 or 3 years time I might be ready to settle there for a full-time MBA and start my Chinese stage in life.

So, were there a GOOD "modular" part-time MBA in China with modules not too close to I another and classes start this fall or winter at the earliest, I would enroll immediately

Thank You

<blockquote>Why not take an English language MBA in China?p</blockquote>

Exactly, Duncan, this is another strategy I consider. The problem is I simply didn't find any "modular" MBA program in China in the English language that would allow me to fly there for a week or two of intensive study and then come back home to work. They all seem to have classes on weekends/evenings every or almost every week, which I can't do.

The exception is BI-Fudan program (4 study days every 5 weeks), but they didn't reply to my e-mail with questions yet (their next start date of June 2012 is too soon :)).

For the first strategy - in 2 or 3 years time I might be ready to settle there for a full-time MBA and start my Chinese stage in life.

So, were there a GOOD "modular" part-time MBA in China with modules not too close to I another and classes start this fall or winter at the earliest, I would enroll immediately

Thank You

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Alex555

5 10

Posted Mar 29, 2012 19:35

Do a Global MBA in England and you are sure to meet a Chinese girl on it.

Send me the money you would pay for the second MBA and I will teach you British negotiation skills!

Seriously, though there are schools that let you take semesters overseas, particularly on part-time global programmes. China is the big growth area for these.

Cammy, do You know any of these (good part-time MBA's in the UK with semesters in China)? Cause I love UK

<blockquote>Do a Global MBA in England and you are sure to meet a Chinese girl on it.

Send me the money you would pay for the second MBA and I will teach you British negotiation skills!

Seriously, though there are schools that let you take semesters overseas, particularly on part-time global programmes. China is the big growth area for these. </blockquote>

Cammy, do You know any of these (good part-time MBA's in the UK with semesters in China)? Cause I love UK

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cammy

16 31

Posted Mar 29, 2012 22:05

Seriously, though there are schools that let you take semesters overseas, particularly on part-time global programmes. China is the big growth area for these.

Cammy, do You know any of these (good part-time MBA's in the UK with semesters in China)? Cause I love UK

Yes -look at the Manchester Global MBA. They offer an elective class called Doing Business in China, which you study in country.

<blockquote><blockquote>

Seriously, though there are schools that let you take semesters overseas, particularly on part-time global programmes. China is the big growth area for these. </blockquote>

Cammy, do You know any of these (good part-time MBA's in the UK with semesters in China)? Cause I love UK </blockquote>

Yes -look at the Manchester Global MBA. They offer an elective class called Doing Business in China, which you study in country.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Mar 29, 2012 22:25

How about MBAs in Hong Kong or Taiwan?
http://www.ivey.com.hk/emba/schedule.html
The CUNY MBA is taught in Taiwan.

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donho199

422 503

Posted Mar 30, 2012 08:20

How about partime MBA?

http://www.vlerick.com/en/programmes/mba/ptmba/parttime-mba-world/parttime-mba-beijing.html

Held at Beijing University one of the most respected in the country if not most respected. Get double MBA from Vlerick a top European school and from Beijing. Can also take extra course to get Master in Finance from Fordham a respected New York finance school.

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Alex555

5 10

Posted Mar 30, 2012 16:09

Yes -look at the Manchester Global MBA. They offer an elective class called Doing Business in China, which you study in country.

yes, thanks, Cummy. MBS seems very good and the program suits me fine. Generally, I would trust a UK (or a USA) based school more over any other. The only problem I can't find MBS class schedule (neither for Manchester nor for their branch in Shanghai). It is not plausible to fly to the UK every weekend. Monthly classes at least is what would work for me. Already sent them a request...

Yes -look at the Manchester Global MBA. They offer an elective class called Doing Business in China, which you study in country. </blockquote>

yes, thanks, Cummy. MBS seems very good and the program suits me fine. Generally, I would trust a UK (or a USA) based school more over any other. The only problem I can't find MBS class schedule (neither for Manchester nor for their branch in Shanghai). It is not plausible to fly to the UK every weekend. Monthly classes at least is what would work for me. Already sent them a request...

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Mar 30, 2012 23:33

Manchester will be one week a semester.

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Alex555

5 10

Posted Mar 31, 2012 17:56

Manchester will be one week a semester.

That means distance learning, which is not what I need. How sad, I liked the idea of MBC...

<blockquote>Manchester will be one week a semester. </blockquote>

That means distance learning, which is not what I need. How sad, I liked the idea of MBC...

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Mar 31, 2012 22:13

What attendance format would be best for you? I guess you have some common options:
- every other Saturday
- one weekend a month
- four day weekend every quarter
- one week a semester
etc....

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Alex555

5 10

Posted Mar 31, 2012 22:53

What attendance format would be best for you? I guess you have some common options:
- every other Saturday
- one weekend a month
- four day weekend every quarter
- one week a semester
etc....

thank you for taking interest. Probably something like one week - four days every 5-8 weeks or so. A bit more intensive format, so as to be more face-to-face with the student group. Examples are BI-Fudan program in Shanghai and probably BI in Oslo, or Viadrina University in Germany. Seems like Aston EMBA in the UK suits this, but I haven't received answer to questions yet (I am currently going through the schools list). A primarily distance program wouldn't do for me, as it deprives the study from the important feature - being there, among the people and in the country (but part-time)

<blockquote>What attendance format would be best for you? I guess you have some common options:
- every other Saturday
- one weekend a month
- four day weekend every quarter
- one week a semester
etc....</blockquote>

thank you for taking interest. Probably something like one week - four days every 5-8 weeks or so. A bit more intensive format, so as to be more face-to-face with the student group. Examples are BI-Fudan program in Shanghai and probably BI in Oslo, or Viadrina University in Germany. Seems like Aston EMBA in the UK suits this, but I haven't received answer to questions yet (I am currently going through the schools list). A primarily distance program wouldn't do for me, as it deprives the study from the important feature - being there, among the people and in the country (but part-time)

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Ander In

2 3

Posted Apr 21, 2012 06:51

Alex555 ...

May I put the question back to you "your goal is to start business in china"

i. Where in China do you want to start a business? If it is a serious goal to set the business in a location then it is better to take the MBA in that area. There are lots part-time MBA in English, all across China.

ii. If the main goal is for business in China then find someone to temporary take charge your main business while you set up in China (you can fly home if you need).

iii. Network is critical for foreign business so check the location with strong alumni network.

iv. It is not necessary to do 2 MBA. If talk to head hunters or even professors it is waste time because it is just repeat a degree. Better to do MBA in English (your case) then get some certificate about Chinese language (only if you want for personal use). Don't forget. Lots Chinese now take English MBA.

The most important thing is be on ground in China to make your network.

I am station Shenzhen and the only way is to be here for me.

Start the business and taking the EMBA and practice language if have time.

Hope can help your thinking.

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