I was honored recently to spend a month at China Jiliang University as a guest instructor, teaching students what I called, “A Flight Plan for International Business Development.” In our growing international economy, it has become important for all students to grasp global business fluency.
I also visited with key business partners in China. The Metro Atlanta Chamber and partners such as the city of Atlanta, the Georgia Department of Economic Development and Georgia Power, have long targeted China. Whether for the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment or as a destination for Atlanta-based companies, China remains a priority. China tourism into Georgia has one of the highest growth rates. More than 25 Chinese companies call Atlanta home, and several of our companies have been growing steadily in that vast market.
Key is preserving relationships and trust. Both are well characterized by the Chinese concept of “guanxi,” which describes the careful and consistent relationship and connection-building that is central to successful business in China.
While there, I came to understand so much more about the concerns of China’s future leaders, how they are being trained, the employment challenges they face, and the concerns they have about navigating a global environment. One of the primary concerns, of course, is the number of available jobs versus graduates.
Among my unforgettable experiences was speaking at conferences about research and development and trends in clean technology, particularly in a city where all scooters must be electric and bikes are provided by the government and free for the first hour’s rental. Of particular interest was the future of education in China including current drivers for change, such as broader access to knowledge and the merits of online education. Chinese universities are aware of coming agents of change such as global mobility, digital technology and integration with industry.
I enjoyed great debate with other professors about the Chinese education system, particularly the increase of face-to-face exposure between students and professors and a move away from one-sided lectures that require only passive participation.
I observed that students in China are very focused and thirsty for learning. They truly want to know how to be successful in a global economy. At the same time, they are just like any students anywhere. They are very savvy when it comes to technology, and many of their perspectives on life are no different than those of American students.
Jorge Fernandez is vice president of global commerce for the Metro Atlanta Chamber.
