Global MBA for Executives

GEMBA China Residency

ChinaThe Darden Global MBA for Executives residency in China will take place in Shanghai and Beijing during the May after beginning the program (visit Academic Calendar for proposed dates). During the residency, you’ll learn about managing vast resources, sustainability, demographic challenges of China, geo-political issues, and media and communication.

Courses taught during "Term 3: Managing and Sustaining Organizations Across Different Cultures and Contexts I" and during the China residency include:

  • Management Communication
  • Accounting
  • Operations
  • Global Economies and Markets
  • Global Leadership Explorations (experiential)

Below you will find the proposed residency schedule:

ShanghaiShanghai, China

Hotel: Le Royal Méridien Shanghai

Day 1

Orientation to residency and overview of political/social/economic aspects of China

Days 2 - 8

  • Three case method classes per day taught by Darden Professors Li, Modica, Simko and Weiss (many of which will be taught by multiple faculty during a single class session — watch this Darden Team Teaching video to learn more). 
  • Lunch at selected restaurants; each day will emphasize a different element of Chinese culinary culture
  • Learning teams will meet at the hotel
  • Company visits and Global Leadership Exploration activities, including:
    • A day-long kaizen (quality improvement exercise) at Shanghai Shilu Instrument Co — an opportunity to apply concepts learned via distance learning in a real-world environment. Students will spend a day in the factory and then deliver recommendations to company executives and workers the next morning on actions they can take.
    • A talk by executives from Wal-Mart Asia and JFP Holdings
    • A case study on urbanization followed by a visit to the Urban Planning Museum
    • Visit to Suzhou
    • Tai chi lesson
    • Networking event with Darden alumni in Shanghai

Great Wall of ChinaBeijing, China

Hotel: Hilton Beijing Wangfujing

Day 9

Travel to Beijing and get your bearings

Days 10 - 14

  • Three case method classes per day taught by Darden Professors Li, Modica, Simko and Weiss
  • Lunch as a group at selected restaurants; each day will emphasize a different element of Chinese culinary culture
  • Learning teams will meet at the hotel 
  • Company visits and Global Leadership Exploration activities, including:
    • Company visits to Huiyuan Juice and Lenovo
    • Bus tour of Beijing to cultural sites including Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City
    • Visit to Houtong
    • Negotiation exercise in local market
    • Work with interpreters to understand challenges of doing business in multiple languages
    • Evening on the Great Wall
    • Friday evening: residency closing dinner

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