International
Business
Program
Forges Links
with China

ccording to Ed Wong, director,

International Projects at Capilano
College, getting special student visas for
his first group of Chinese students was “a
real coup.”

Almost two years ago, discussions
began between Capilano College and the
China Management Training Centre
(CMTCC) in Chengdu, China to run a two-
year Joint International Business Program.

Chinese students would study the first
year of our International Business program
(with slight variations) at CMTCC, then
continue their second year at Capilano
College’s North Vancouver campus.

“We originally targeted 25 students,”
says Ed, who received funding for the
development of the project from the
Association of Canadian Community
Colleges. “In the end, only 13 passed the
CMTCC internal TOEFL (test of English
as a foreign language) exam.”

The students started their first term in
Chengdu in September 1995. In the
beginning of their second term, they had
to write another exam; this time the official
TOEFL test. “Unfortunately, only nine
passed,” says Ed. “The four who didn’t
pass are working hard to advance. If they
do, they will be admitted into the program
in January 1997.

Meanwhile, Ed was working with the
Canadian Embassy to have them give
special consideration to allow the students
to come to Canada.

“At one point, the Embassy had rejected
all the students, but I pleaded with them
and finally got them to reconsider,” he says,
adding, “however, only eight received
visas to come to Canada.

“Tt has been a lot of work to orchestrate
this,” he adds. “My Chinese counterpart at
the institution in China has also had many
other things to deal with, including a more
cumbersome hierarchy.”

This special arrangement with
CMTCC is for three years. “After three
years and all the growing pains it should
become a well-run program,” Ed says
confidently. “We are also trying to
replicate this model with other countries.
For instance, we are working to develop

uan Gang, 26, and Zhang Shaoxi,

22, are two visiting Chinese
students presently taking their second
year of the Joint International Business
program at Capilano College.

Gang, like his father, is a dentist in
Chengdu, a city located in southwest
China close to the Tibetan border.
Together they operate a dental clinic, but
they have plans of expanding their
business to include dental products.

“I'd like to gain some. working
experience in Canada as our new business
will be an overseas venture,” says Gang,
whose Canadian name is Jason. “Many
advanced dental products are available
only in the United States, so we hope to
forge ties between our country, North
America, Germany and Japan.”

Shaoxi, whose Canadian name is
Shara, lives with her mother, father and
older sister in Chengdu. Together they
operate a family business selling air
conditioning equipment.

“My family wants to develop our
business and establish trade with Canada,
so I came here to learn some advanced
knowledge and new ideas in regards to
international business,” she says. “I also
want to learn about Canada and about the
people.”

Although they have excellent English
skills, just about everything they come
across is different. “The food, the people,

Visiting
students from
Chengdu,
China are
pictured here
with Ed Wong,
director of
International

@ Projects, and
College
president, Dr.
Greg Lee.

an International Tourism Management
program with several Mexican
institutions.”

If you are interested in more
information or in developing an
international program, call Ed Wong at
984-1706.

fewer people, the way they think,” says
Shaoxi, are just a few of those
differences. “Plus, it’s much cleaner
here,” adds Gang, “and I really like the
nature.”

They admit that some of the classes

are tough, but Shaoxi and Gang are
enjoying their time at Capilano College.
“The faculty are very kind to us,” says
Shaoxi. “If we have any problems or
questions, they are always there to help
us.”
Gang adds: “Mary Anne Van Horn
has been especially kind. She is a
Capilano College instructor who taught
us business computing during our first
year of college in Chengdu.”

As muchas they like it here, the nature
and clean air is still no cure for
homesickness. Waiting back in Chengdu
is Gang’s wife of only one year.

“I’m a newlywed, so it’s a little hard
for me to be here right now,” he says. As
for Shaoxi, this is her first time away
from her family and she says she is
“definitely homesick.”

The students would like to extend an
invitation to anyone who might be
interested in learning about China or the
Chinese people. “We would really like
to meet them,” Shaoxi says. “Please ask
them to contact us through Luisa
Veschini or Ed Wong in the International
Projects office at 984-1706.”

@nformer