OREANDA-NEWS. The education programme was launched today at the Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO. It is the first programme aimed at acquiring crucial knowledge and practical skills essential for the development of own strategy of making business with China. The content part of the programme was developed by the SKOLKOVO Institute for Emerging Market Studies with support from the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

Over 45 people became the participants of the programme, among them business owners, managers of companies which operate or intend to operate in China or cooperate with Chinese partners, representatives of public institutes for development, as well as officials from federal and regional public authorities.

The Academic Director of the programme is Thomas Casas, the Academic Advisor to the Dean of the SKOLKOVO Business School, professor of the Fudan University’s School of Management (Shanghai) with many years’ experience of entrepreneurship in Asia, particularly in China. He is also the Director of the China Competence Centre at the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland).

The lecturers and speakers of the programme are leading representatives of academic society and expert community, practical entrepreneurs, and public officials. Among them are Stanislav Voskresensky, the Deputy Minister of the Economic Development of the Russian Federation and the Director of the Executive Secretariat representing Russia in the Intergovernmental Russian-Chinese Commission for Investment Cooperation; Zhang Di, Plenipotentiary Minister, Advisor for Trade and Economic Matters of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Russian Federation; Vladimir Malyavin, professor of the Institute for European Studies at the Tamkang University (Taiwan); Mikhail Karpov, associate professor of the School of Asian Studies at the National Research University Higher School of Economics; Alexandr Gabuev, chair of the Russia in the Asia-Pacific Programme at the Carnegie Moscow Centre; Igor Temirov, Director of Business Development in overseas countries at SPLAT company, and others.

Part of the SKOLKOVO Business School Open Enrolment Series, the course features three days of intensive education. During the first day, the participants will learn about the economic, political, and social transformations China is facing, becoming an active global player. They will also come to know the efficient strategies used by Chinese companies and government institutions in the process of international expansion. During the second day, the participants will acquire a comprehensive view of the Chinese market, Chinese consumers, and Chinese mentality and business culture, which have direct influence on the prospects of business development in this country. By the end of the third day of the programme, each participant will have to formulate a development strategy for their own business with China, based on the understanding of the key success factors and the specific character of Russian-Chinese relations at the current stage.

The programme also includes an introduction to the elements of traditional Chinese culture and informal socialising with experts and potential business partners.

Commenting on the launch of the programme, Thomas Casas said: “This programme is the result of our active efforts to form our own education product that would meet the latest demands of the market, integrating research with the best education experience. The programme is based on the results of the studies conducted in China by the SKOLKOVO Institute for Emerging Market Studies; it is also based on profound expertise and practical cases accumulated in cooperation with Chinese partners during the organisation of international modules in China for the degree programmes of the Business School. I am sure that Russian managers and entrepreneurs have everything it takes to run a successful business in China, however, I also realise that this potential is yet unfulfilled. Most of the ideas and conceptions commonly taught at business schools are of Western origin, whereas little account is given of business and political structure in China. That is why it is crucial to learn about it as much as possible: by reading relevant sources, travelling to China, absorbing Chinese culture, and actively looking for the opportunities China has to offer. There is a lot to learn from the Chinese since they have a lot to offer, be it business models or an interesting view of life.”