The Mannheim-Tongji executive MBA program - a cooperative project between the German Mannheim Business School and Tongji University's School of Economics and Management in Shanghai - recently won major plaudits.

It was ranked No 46 in the 17th annual ranking by the Financial Times of the world's top 100 executive MBA programs for senior working managers.

It was the first time that the Mannheim-Tongji EMBA program participated in the FT ranking, and it was the only Sino-German dual-degree EMBA program on the list.

The FT EMBA list is widely regarded as one of the most authoritative rankings of its kind in the world, with the highest standard.

It uses 16 indicators to survey graduates of the programs independently, including current salaries, increases in salaries, accomplishment of learning targets, international diversity of students and teachers and the proportion of female students and teachers.

The Mannheim-Tong ji EMBA program was ranked in the top 10 in three measures-No 9 in career progress, No 8 in the international faculty and No 9 in international course experience.

The program started in 2011, as the Chinese economy continued to grow robustly and increasingly integrated with the global economy.

As many European countries expanded their investments in China, especially with the strengthening Sino-German trade partnership, there was huge demand for high-level management personnel with deep understanding of both Chinese and German cultures, as well as international experience.

That led to the launch of the program, which aimed to foster the development of world-class leaders in industry.

Participants in the Mannheim-Tongji EMBA program are mainly managers and entrepreneurs that have businesses in China and Germany. With the concept combining innovative theories and practical experience in companies, the program draws experience from traditional MBA programs in the United States, and has made some breakthrough innovations by integrating German elements that fit in with the background of the rapid economic growth in China.

It enrolls about 40 students each year, who come from 15 countries and regions worldwide with an average 15 years of work experience. Many of them work in the Fortune Global 500 companies. About 40 percent of the participants are female.

There are 41 professors in the program from 11 countries. The program consists of three modules in Shanghai and three in Mannheim, with Chinese and German students equally represented in it.

The program has focused and is committed to high quality, internationalized, professional development and brand building.

Some courses focus on broad general management expertise, integrating perspectives and best practices from all over the world, and others work to shape participants into effective leaders in international business circles.

With such flexible courses offered, participants can complete the program tailored to their own personal circumstances, usually within one and a half years to three and a half years.

Stefan Feig-Cho, a graduate from the Mannheim-Tongji EMBA program in 2013, said the program offered "plenty of opportunities to discuss and learn about new technology concepts that were relevant for my professional development".

"I learned a lot during the courses and industry talks, and in my view, this focus on digitization is something other EMBA programs are still falling short of," he said.

Michael Schaefer, former German ambassador to China and a board member of the Mannheim-Tongji EMBA program, said China and Europe were very important partners in a multi-polarized world, with many common interests.

"To consolidate bilateral cooperation, we must learn to accept each other's ways of thinking and values, putting aside minor differences to seek common ground," he said.

"I believe the Mannheim-Tongji EMBA program will greatly push both sides toward these goals, and help our future managers and leaders develop their capabilities in leading the development of a nation or a company," he added.

Among the top 10 FT EMBA programs, eight are joint projects involving cooperation between two or more countries, and the top three are such programs.

The driving force behind this trend is globalization, said executives of the Mannheim-Tongji EMBA program.

Emerging economies, including China, have a strong demand for internationalized managers, as they increasingly integrate into the world economic system, but the current supply of these professionals is not meeting the demand.

As a result, business schools around the world are actively seeking international partners and attempting to create various models for cooperation, to develop internationalized EMBAs through their joint efforts.

The top 10 programs are all based in international cities, such as New York, London, Shanghai and Hong Kong. They have not only gathered large numbers of high-quality students, but have also established leading teaching faculties.

Both partners in the Mannheim-Tongji EMBA program are renowned for their high academic standards, cutting-edge research and teaching. The two schools have substantial experience in executive education, with excellent corporate and alumni networks.

"Combining the two institutions' strengths and resources, the program provides senior executives from around the world with the knowledge, skills and tools necessary in high positions of international management," said Huo Jiazhen, former dean of Tongji SEM.

Bettina Kosiel, director of the EMBA program at the Mannheim Business School, said the significance and dynamism of Sino-German trade relations was widely known.

"As the economic partnership between the two countries has grown, the need for management education programs that focus on Sino-German relations and build a bridge for cooperation among the business elite is more than apparent," she added.

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(China Daily 10/27/2017 page12)