Beijing and Shanghai, China

"Doing Business in China"
Faculty Leader: Peter Yu

Host Institution

The Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business in Shanghai 

Academic Program

General Overview :
The Darden GBE China program is designed to help students achieve the following objectives: to gain exposure to business practices in China; to better understand the interface of marketplace with local cultural/social conditions; and to help participants enjoy an international experience. 

The program includes three days of traveling in Beijing and a week of formal programs in Shanghai.  There are four components: (1) orientation sessions (one at Darden and one on-site) to learn more about the local history/culture and get prepared for the trip; (2) academic sessions taught by our host institution faculty; (3) visitations to select companies and government agencies to learn business practices and establish personal connections, including a field trip; (4) cultural events, such as an acrobatic show, to appreciate Chinese cultural traditions, and site-seeing at Old Town and Yu Garden, Shanghai Pearl Tower, and a countryside town.

Readings will be assigned to provide background knowledge for this experiential learning process.  The highlight of the program is for participants to select a given topic and conduct a field trip with peers in Shanghai.  The final report is expected to include the field trip, reflective notes of the readings, and personal analysis and observations.

Our host institution – Cheung Kong graduate School of Business (CKGSB), funded by the Li Ka Shing Foundation, has built an excellent reputation in the field of MBA education, with permanent faculty members who previously taught at schools like Wharton, Columbia, Kellogg, and others. 

Dr. Peter Yu, a native of Shanghai, received education in China, Britain, and the United States.  He has traveled extensively with UVA faculty, students, and alumni to China and has conducted the Darden GBE China program since 2004.

See a sample itinerary here.

Watch a video interview with a past participant of the China GBE here.

Logistics

Accent Travel has been contracted to provide program services for the China GBE. These services include hotel accommodations, transportation, and other services. Accent Travel also offers additional services, including airfare and acquisition of visas where they are required.   

GBE program costs are not included in Darden’s tuition and fees. The cost of each program includes double occupancy hotel accommodations; taxes, fees and gratuities associated with the program; logistical services both before and during the program; in-country transportation; instructional costs such as classroom facilities, in-country faculty salaries, honoraria, and gifts. Other than non-group meals, non-group entertainment, and personal incidentals, the program fee is intended to be comprehensive and represents the total cost of the program.  

GBE program costs vary depending on location and length of stay. Students who register for a GBE must pay the program cost by January 29,2010.  Deadline dates and a payment timelinw are available for students on the Darden Portal Course Area. 

GBEs also offer students a number of additional options where available or necessary such as air fare, visa acquisition, and single room accommodations.  More information on these options, as well as comparative costs for all 2010 GBEs is available on the Darden Portal Course Area/GBE Course Information.

The program cost for the China GBE for 2010 is $2600 and includes in-country air fare.  This fee does not include airfare. Information on airfare rates is available on the Darden GBE portal.

University of Virginia students traveling outside the United States must register with UVA’s International Studies Office (ISO). Information on registration can be found on the Darden Portal Course Area. ISO’s website for graduate students traveling outside the US provides a wealth of valuable information.

GBE students must also provide proof of overseas insurance coverage prior to their departure. Students who have UVA’s Chickering Health Insurance are automatically covered for overseas travel. The Tayloe Murphy International Center also provides emergency evacuation insurance coverage for all GBE students through Medex.

Whether or not a visa will be required varies depending on a student’s country of citizenship. Accent Travel Group can assist students in acquiring any visa that they may need to participate in the GBE.

More Information on visa requirements for both US and non-US citizens can be found on the Chinese Embassy website.

Helpful City/Country Links

US State Department, including Tips for Travelling Abroad and the Consular Information Sheet 
CIA World Fact Book
People’s Daily Information Page: Shanghai 
ChinaToday.com  
Shanghai Post 

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