Application for 2022 Global 3 Program is now open

Introduction of Global 3 Program
Lingnan College has collaborated with the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia (USA) and ESADE Business School (Spain) to offer a new postgraduate program. The new program is designed for fresh graduates as well as for young professionals with relevant backgrounds and outstanding academic achievements. The purpose of this program is to train future business leaders in implementing global strategies in the real world, and to be able to cooperate well with a diverse range of groups while managing the teams with good cultural competence. The program will explore the complexities of the global business environment from North American, European and Asian perspectives.

Why choose Global 3 Program?
• Earn two official master's degrees from the University of Virginia and ESADE Business School, and a certificate from Lingnan College, three of the most prestigious universities in the world.
• Learn from the most recognized professors at each university.
• Preparing yourself to be a highly talented future business leader, who understands the complexity of implementing global strategies in a highly dynamic global economy and will be able to lead and manage multicultural teams.
• Open your mind and broaden your visions while experiencing a strong cultural immersion by living with students from different countries.
• Get access to three Career Services to increase your opportunities in working in your favorite industries.

 

Admission Requirements
• Bachelor's degree in Business studies, Economics or Management from a recognized university
• A minimum TOEFL score at 100 or a minimum IELTS score at 7.0
• A minimum GMAT score at 580 (or GRE equivalent)
• Fresh graduates and young professionals with 2 years of full-time working experience or below

 

Apply online through: https://lnsys.sysu.edu.cn/mib/apply/

Contact
Email: lnmib@mail.sysu.edu.cn
Tel: (8620) 8411 1818

我院国际商务全球硕士项目（简称“三国项目”）2022年招生启动

 

2022年“三国项目”申请正在进行,

名额有限，申请从速。

 

一、“三国项目”是什么

三国项目是中山大学岭南（大学）学院与美国弗吉尼亚大学麦金太尔商学院、西班牙ESADE商学院联手打造的国际商务全球硕士项目（简称三国项目）。学生将在一年的时间里到这三个世界一流的商学院进行学习和生活。顺利完成课程后，学生将获得美国弗吉尼亚大学的全球商业硕士学位（Master of Science in Global Commerce）、西班牙ESADE商学院的全球战略商务硕士学位(Master of Science in Global Strategic Management) 和中山大学岭南学院国际商务证书。

在2022 QS与2021 Financial Times金融时报（以下简称FT）的国际排名中，三国项目分别位列全球第9和第11名, 较去年上升3位，并在这两项排名中蝉联亚太地区第1，高居世界前列。

 

 

 

二、合作院校概况

弗吉尼亚大学麦金太尔商学院

美国弗吉尼亚大学由美国第三任总统、《独立宣言》起草人托马斯·杰斐逊于1819年创建成，迄今已有200多年的校史。在2021年U.S. News美国公立大学排名中弗吉尼亚大学位列第4，在全球学术界享有盛誉。作为美国声誉最高的公立大学之一，其麦金太尔商学院曾在美国“商业周刊”商学院评选中排名第一。在这样一所被联合国教科文组织列入世界遗产的校园里学习，不但历史文化气息浓厚，多元化的语言环境也让人深受陶冶。

该大学坐落于美国弗吉尼亚州夏洛茨维尔，这里气候宜人，四季分明。小城偎依在郁郁葱葱的蓝岭山麓，又有碧绿清澈的里万纳河从身旁流过，景色十分秀丽。项目开学之际正是夏洛茨维尔的秋天，古老的校园建筑在大片的红金色秋叶中若隐若现，美如画卷。

 

中山大学岭南（大学）学院

岭南（大学）学院隶属于中山大学，于1988年由国家教育部批准成立。学院获得AMBA、EQUIS和AACSB三大国际认证，成为全球同时获得三大认证的为数不多的商学院之一，跻  身全球优秀商学院行列。

学院教育项目优质，本科高考平均录取分数连续30年位居中山大学最前列。学院科研成果突出，教师在UTD期刊人均发表论文数量高居中山大学最前列，过去五年获国家社科基金重大及重大专项资助数量居中山大学文科最前列。

中山大学岭南（大学）学院坐落在中国南方的花城广州，在珠江河畔遥望着璀璨的广州塔。广州作为开放的前沿，商业繁荣，多元文化碰撞交流。在这里学习生活，浸润在充满竞争的商业气息中，领略南国的风光和魅力。

 

ESADE商学院

西班牙ESADE商学院成立于1958年，校园位于巴塞罗那和马德里，是西班牙三大商学院之一，也是欧洲最顶尖的商学院之一。ESADE同样拥有AACSB、AMBA、EQUIS三大国际认证，其清晰的国际化视野和极高的雇主满意度，使ESADE一直在各类全球商学院排名中名列前茅。在2021 QS世界管理学科排名中，ESADE商学院位列全球第四。其高质量的教学水平与全球范围内的良好声誉，使毕业生获得了诸多在世界各地顶尖咨询公司、投行、世界五百强企业工作的机会。

参加三国项目的同学们将会进入ESADE位于巴塞罗那的校区进行学习。“欧洲之花”巴塞罗那市位于西班牙东北部地中海沿岸，依山傍海，地势雄伟。该城是西班牙第二大城市，也是加泰罗尼亚自治区首府。它是享誉世界的地中海风光旅游目的地和世界著名的历史文化名城，也是西班牙最重要的贸易、工业和金融基地。

 

三、有什么新特色

“同学们要想了解世界经济的发展，把握世界领先企业的发展动态和商业文化，美中欧你们是绕不过去的坎。所以我们这个项目其实是希望把同学们带到美中欧的商业实战场景，引导大家去解读去挖掘企业家们背后所思所想。”

——陈刚教授 中山大学岭南学院副院长

在这三所优秀的商学院学习，你们将体验不一样的教学模式，美国高含量开放式讨论的课堂，中国信息量满满的指导性学习，以及西班牙开放国际化的模式。每一个阶段的学习，都是不一样的挑战，但你们都将接触到最鲜活的商业案例，并参与其中进行运营分析。同时也能参访当地知名的企业，如国家地理杂志、Google、腾讯、微众银行、GAP、Bloomberg等，了解企业运营的模式和特点，深化学习。

 

四、有什么新体验

丰富的学习安排，课余文化之旅，这是一趟紧凑而收获满满的学习旅程。国际化的班级构成帮同学们深入理解多样化并从多样化中汲取力量，建立真正的跨文化合作关系。

三国项目的学员来自全球各个国家，身处其中需要不断学习。在这一年的硕士项目里，你们将保持紧密的联系，一起学习做项目，一起生活，一起出行，一起讨论时热话题，甚至交流人生理想。与班级同学的交流，意味着你需要不断提高自己的语言能力，感受不同国度的文化，接受各种观点看法，不断提升自己的眼界和思维。优秀的你必能从他们身上收获许多故事、闪光点和启发。

 

五、有什么新收获

“能和不同国家的小伙伴们同吃同住同学的机会并不多，参加三国项目也许是你人生中唯一的一次机会”

——毛睿

毛睿，17级国际商务硕士学生，19届三国项目毕业生。现就职于OPPO，担任产品经理。

 

1. 丰富而实用的商业课程。从职业发展培训、全方位理论课程设置、一流企业参访、跨文化管理到模拟实战、与企业家交流等，你们将在紧密的课程学习中不断完善自身，提升实力。

2. 实战经验与技能。你们将通过同时与来自不同国家的组员组成的多个小组完成项目，锻炼自己的跨文化团队合作以及多任务处理的能力。通过真实的案例分析与模拟运营、企业参访，增加商务实战经验。这都将增强你往后工作的竞争力。

3. 语言能力与跨文化交际能力。课堂展示、合作交流、日常沟通，在这样一个多元化的班级中，外语表达能力和跨文化交际能力将快速提升。

4. 广阔的人脉与值得珍视一生的情谊。因共同的志向而聚集在一起的你们，往后将是很好的朋友，甚至合作伙伴。收获的故事，结下的深厚友谊，都将是珍贵回忆。

5. 多元文化体验。美国的红枫叶、中国南方的美景饮食、西班牙的复活节，班级同学的经历分享，旅行的体验，都是一生值得珍藏的回忆。

6. 更好的自己。与优秀的人一起，我们会成为更优秀的自己。除了语言、实践能力的提升，你也将看到更加开放包容、思维更加多元活跃的自己。

 

 

六、谁是我们想要寻找的学生

• 本科学历，商科/经济管理学相关专业

• 英语语言测试达标（雅思7分及以上或托福100分及以上）

• GMAT成绩580分及以上或GRE同等分数

• 应届毕业生或职场新人（2年以下工作经验）

 

只要你怀揣着梦想，愿意探索世界，

并勇敢地踏出这一步，外面将是更加广阔的天地；

只要你拥有开放的心态，良善的心意，

去拥抱这个世界，为企业的发展做出自己的努力，

你就是我们想要寻找的最好的学生。

 

咨询邮箱

lnmib@mail.sysu.edu.cn

咨询电话

20 - 84111818

在线申请:
https://lnsys.sysu.edu.cn/mib/apply/

Global 3 Program is ranked No.9 & No.11 in QS and FT global rankings respectively

Collaboratively established by Lingnan College, McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia (USA), and ESADE Business School (Spain), Global 3 Program made a great achievement of No. 9 and No. 11 in Masters of Management rankings for QS and Financial Times (FT) respectively in the newly released rankings. The program has raised 3 places in both rankings from last year. Global 3 Program retains its first place in Asia Pacific in both QS and FT rankings for two consecutive years.

 

 

 

 

 

Index Analysis

 

QS

According to the QS data analysis, Global 3 has an excellent overall performance, especially in Value for Money, Class & Faculty Diversity, Employability, Thought Leadership, and Alumni Outcomes. These indicators are all in the leading positions around the globe.

 

 

FT

For FT rankings, the Overall Satisfaction of Global 3 alumni is scored 9.31 out of 10, ranked No.16 around the world, and No.1 in Asia Pacific. This is a reflection of alumni’s wide recognition of the program. International Mobility of Global 3 is ranked No.9 worldwide this year, rising 18 places from its 2020 position. International Course Experience is raised 5 positions this year. The proportion of international faculty and students all have steady growth. In the aspect of employability, the Career Progress of Global 3 is ranked No.19 internationally.

The consistent development of Global 3 comes from its strong teaching, openness, and cultural integration. Starting from 2016, the program develops rapidly in only 5 years, and cultivates global business professionals for many multinational organizations. The majority of our graduates are employed by transnational enterprises or domestic leading companies including Accenture, EY, Bain, Unilever, Tencent, Huawei, DJI, Amazon, Alibaba, and HP etc.

 

 

Voice of Global 3 alumna

 

 

Teacher Insights

“Doing Business in China is a course that combines theories and practices to demonstrate the heritage and context of Chinese commerce. Showing students Chinese business by visiting representative national organizations. Doing Business in XXX is a series of courses, and also one of the special classes of Global 3 Program. Doing Business in the U.S. and Doing Business in Europe are also offered by our partner schools of McIntire School of Commerce and ESADE Business School. During the courses, students are able to understand and compare the business practice and environment in the U.S., China, and Spain through case studies.

When I teach, I can see students with different cultural backgrounds learning from each other. The diversity of students’ cultures and minds are the uniqueness of this program. The program does not only teach business theories and skills, more importantly, it encourages inclusiveness of dissimilarities by requiring students to study and live together in three countries. Based on the outcome of our graduates, qualities like global vision, openness, and diversification are embodied well during their employment, which other employees rarely have.”

-Prof. LIN Daomi
Associate Professor

Global 3全球管理硕士项目期待你的加入

汇集三大名校优势特色学科，打造创新课程体系

营造美中欧之跨国学习体验，对接中西商界实战

融入跨文化之三大校友网络，培育全球商务菁英

 

自2016年起，中山大学岭南学院与美国弗吉尼亚大学McIntire商学院和西班牙ESADE商学院这两所世界一流的商学院联手，汇集全球顶尖的教育资源，共同打造Global3全球管理硕士项目。

在2021 QS与2020 Financial Times金融时报（以下简称FT）的管理学硕士排名中，Global 3全球管理硕士项目（简称三国项目）分别位列全球第12和第14名, 并在这两项国际排名中稳居亚太地区第一名。

项目以培养具有国际视野、跨文化交流能力、战略思维的未来商业精英为目标，为学生提供在北美洲、亚洲、欧洲的学习和生活体验。

2021-2022学年的项目申请正在进行，名额有限，申请从速。

 

 

一年获得两个硕士学位

学生在美国弗吉尼亚、中国广州以及西班牙巴塞罗那顺利完成为期一年的学习后，将会获得美国弗吉尼亚大学的全球商业硕士学位（MSc in Global Commerce）、西班牙ESADE商学院的全球战略商务硕士学位（MSc in Global Strategic Management）和中山大学岭南学院的国际商务证书。

 

跨文化交流能力及国际视野

项目学生于一年之内在三个国家的顶级商学院进行学习及生活。学习期间，中国学生将和来自北美、欧洲、亚洲不同地区、不同文化背景和专业领域的学生共同生活，体验多样文化的交流和碰撞，学习跨文化沟通与合作。项目学生的群体组成体现出三国项目最大的亮点——国际化，学生分别来自美国、中国、西班牙、意大利、德国、法国、瑞士等国家和地区。

 

丰富的职业发展资源

该项目学生能充分享受到三所高校的就业指导和职业发展资源，通过招聘会、一对一就业咨询、职业发展讲座、企业参访等形式全面提升自己的就业能力和竞争力。往届的项目毕业生的入职单位包括全球知名跨国企业如埃森哲、腾讯、华为等。

 

 

请登录官网

http://lingnan.sysu.edu.cn/en/GlobalThreeProgramme 进行网申。更多申请信息可在Admission页面查看。

项目概况

· 学习模式：全日制

· 学习时长：一年

· 授课地点：美国夏洛特维尔（Charlottesville）、中国广州、西班牙巴塞罗那（Barcelona）

· 毕业条件：完成所有课程及作业、考试、答辩、毕业论文等

· 获得学位/证书：美国弗吉尼亚大学、西班牙ESADE商学院双硕士学位，中山大学岭南学院课程完成证书

· 结合当地商业本土环境推出特色课程： Doing Business in U.S./China/Europe

· 企业参访

· 文化体验活动

· 嘉宾讲座

 

申请条件

· 本科学历，商科/经济管理学相关专业

· 英语语言测试达标（雅思7分及以上，托福100分及以上）

· GMAT成绩580及以上或GRE同等分数

· 无职场经验的毕业生或职场新人（2年以下工作经验）

 

咨询邮箱：何老师heqh9@mail.sysu.edu.cn

 

 

Apply for our 2021-2022 Global 3 Program today!

 

Why should I choose this program?

The Global 3 Program that is collaboratively established by Lingnan College, McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia (USA), and ESADE Business School (Spain) has achieved No. 12 and No. 14 in Masters in Management rankings for QS and Financial Times (FT) respectively, and No. 1 in Asia Pacific. Being ranked among the top 14 Masters in Management programs in the world by both world leading university ranking organizations with strong international influence means that Global 3 is widely recognized by graduates and employers.

Our goal is to train future business leaders in the implementation of global strategies and in the management of multicultural teams. It explores the complexities of the global business environment from the North American, European and Asian perspectives.

By joining the program, you will travel to three countries for living and studying, and receive TWO Master’s degrees from University of Virginia and ESADE Business School, and ONE certificate from Lingnan College. You will be provided with efficient opportunities to collaborate with individuals from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds, and to build your own global network.

 

How well does this program suit me?

Students with a Bachelor degree in Business Studies, Management or Economics or other business relevant disciplines are strongly encouraged to apply. We are looking for someone who work hard to make a great academic achievement while looking for any chances to become a leader of an outstanding team in the industry. The applicants should have a clear goal of what kind of professional they would like to be in their future career life.

Please show us your ambitiousness, creativity, professional experiences, global mindset, and the urge of building your own relationships with those who are leading the industry. The opportunity of receiving practical courses from world-class universities and also to own overseas study experiences is offered to you right now!

Click on Apply Now to start your global journey.

For more information, please go to http://lingnan.sysu.edu.cn/en/GlobalThreeProgramme  

Contact us via lnmib@mail.sysu.edu.cn to talk to our admission officer.

 

 

Global 3 Program enters into top 15 in QS and FT global rankings

The Global 3 Program that is collaboratively established by Lingnan College, McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia (USA), and ESADE Business School (Spain) has achieved No. 12 and No. 14 in Masters in Management rankings for QS and Financial Times (FT) respectively.

According to the most recent result published on 28thof September, the program is ranked No. 14 worldwide and No. 1 in Asia Pacific in the 2020 FT Masters in Management rankings. It was the first time for Global 3 Program participating in FT rankings.

In the 2021 QS Business Masters Rankings of Management, the Global 3 Program is ranked No. 12 globally and No. 1 in Asia Pacific as well for two consecutive years.

Being ranked among the top 14 Masters in Management programs in the world by both world leading university ranking organizations with strong international influence means that Global 3 is widely recognized by graduates and employers. Taking advantages of the international rankings, Global 3 will make continuous improvements, carry forward its global reputation, and will be committed to cultivating business elites to serve the international business community.

Since 2016, the Global 3 Program has been successfully running for 4 years with approximately 200 students from over 18 regions and countries. This program is designed for ambitious business graduates who are keen to explore the complexities of the global business environment from North American, European, and Asian perspectives.

During the one-year of postgraduate learning, students spend a certain period of time in the USA, China, and Spain, study and live together with peers coming from different cultural backgrounds and professional fields. The program provides a unique opportunity for those looking to broaden their horizons and prepare for a global career in the complex and dynamic business world.

 

The Fourth Opening Ceremony of Masters of International Business

On September 2, 2019, the opening ceremony of Masters of International Business that is jointly established by Lingnan College, McIntire School of Commerce at University of Virginia (UVA), and ESADE Business School, took a place at the Rotunda, the historic building of the University of Virginia. Nearly 40 students from multiple countries including United States, China, and Europe began their one-year global study.

Carl Zeithaml, Dean of McIntire School of Commerce, extended a warm welcome to the new students. He reviewed the orientations of the program and its development in the past four years, then wished the students success studying and living with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Afterwards, the three academic directors of this program, Amanda Cowen (U.S.), LIU Heng (China), and Frank Wiengarten (Spain) gave detailed presentations on the teaching arrangements of the year. The ceremony also had Danny Steeper, the Director of Teaching Affaires of School of Commerce of UVA, and several professors and administrative staff.

The Dean also invited students to have dinner at his garden. During the dinner time, students expressed their excitement for the new semester while sharing their stories with each other.

In the following weeks, the students would take part in the Case study demo, cross-cultural teamwork, Career services i.e. “Developing your personal brand”, Business analytics forum, Case interview Prep workshop, and so on. All students were excited about the coming courses.

Attending the QS Global Masters Fair - Singapore

On November 12, Lingnan College at Sun Yat-sen University participated in the 2019 QS World Grad School Tour Singapore as an exhibitor. The fair was held in Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, with 201 attendees from 33 regions and countries.

The event started at 4.30pm and after seminars, students were able to have one-on-one consultations with college representitives. We offered students detailed introduction of the culture and courses of our school and university along with the core status of Guangzhou in Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macao Greater Bay Area. The brochures of our international programs include MBA, CHEMBA, Undergratuate, Postgraduate, PhD, and International Business, were also handed out to students for developing their comprehensive understanding of the programs. For those who had unclear vision of their future study, we helped in matching courses based on their needs and interests.

According to QS official statistics, there were 37 colleges and universities from 13 countries presented on the day. Lingnan College was one of the only two Chinese mainland exhibitors.

Visit us in Singapore!

Dear Future Business Leaders,

We are excited to announce that Lingnan College will be attending the QS World Graduate Tour in Singapore on November 12th! If you happen to be around, you are more than welcomed to stop by and say hi to us.

We will be at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre that day from 16:30-21:00. The International Business program brochures are prepared along with our little gifts and big smiles. It is a FREE entry so bring a friend if you wish. Remember you can get a free professional headshot from a photographer at the event. Also the first 100 to arrive on the day will receive a Starbucks voucher worth SGD10!

Come and chat with us, we will show you what it is like to stand in the center of this real business world!

Looking forward to meeting you in Singapore

Lingnan College

Sun Yat-sen University

2019 Graduation Speech- Student Representative, He Rui

Good evening everyone!

Just 10 months ago, we sat together for the first time in the rotunda at UVA, curious about which country the person sitting beside us was from, or what language he or she spoke.

And now 10 months later, we are here, celebrating the end of this long journey as a big family. Time always goes faster than people think, but I invite you to recall, do you still remember the friends who were in the same color group as you in the personality test in orientation? Do you still remember what your thesis teammate wrote in the confidential envelopes? You might find that a lot can happen over the course of 10 months!

In this program, we got a comprehensive and systematic education in each field of business. No matter if it was at McIntire, Lingnan or ESADE, we had both theoretical courses and practical training. No matter if it was in Marketing, Finance or Operations, we learned from experienced professors and through our own team cooperation. I still remember the debate sessions organized by Professor Cowen, and how we could all see the same management question from different views. I appreciate that Professor Tingting taught us how to quantify consumers’ attitudes towards brands. I may never forget how to understand operation bottleneck from the example of Herbie’s hiking introduced by Professor Wiengarten. All of these education experiences were not only about teaching us the knowledge or skills we will use in the career, but also meant to show us the philosophy behind our lives and future ahead.

The study trips in three continents could be one of highlights in this year. We visited the US state department in Washington DC, where we discussed not only academics, but also politics, trade and international relations. In Shenzhen, China, we were impressed by how digital banking is changing people’s lives, thanks to WeBank, Tencent. Here in Barcelona, all of us were excited to visit the Amazon fulfillment center, experiencing how world-class logistical operations can work with smart technology.

In addition, this year has also been a long cultural trip. We experienced three unique cultures across the globe, spending Thanksgiving in the US, Spring Festival in China, and Easter holiday in Europe, the most interesting festivals in their right places! Of course, we also had our confusions along the way, such as why Chinese use umbrellas on sunny days, or why western people wait until the last-minute to plan a trip. We also had conflicts from how to structure a PowerPoint presentation, to what the temperature the air conditioner should be set at.

But that is all because, we were studying together, and sharing our lives together.

When my friends in China asked me what this program is like, I told them it is just like a large pan of Valencian paella. When you put chicken, ribs, onion, beans, and rice, all the stuff in the pan, it really looks like a mess in the beginning. However, when you give it some time, you smell the aromas from the pan, you find that they mixed together perfectly. They used to have totally different flavors, but in the pan, they adapt each other, they change each other. That is why every piece of chicken, every grain of rice gets a better flavor than it had before.

That is how each of us becomes a better version of ourselves.

To conclude, on behalf of the cohort, I want to thank all the faculties from the three schools for teaching us, leading us, and creating this unique learning environment for us. A special thank you to all the families and friends, especially our parents, for the company and support they have given us not only today, but for our entire lives. Finally, I want to thank the class.

I am honored to speak on your behalf, but the real honor is the time I had been spending with you all. At some point in the future, maybe when we least expect, I hope that our paths may cross again.

Thank you! Gracias! 谢谢大家！

Lingnan College Class Reunion of All International Cooperating Programs

On 30th of May, Lingnan College worked along with Plateno Group to deliver an exceptional class reunion party for Lingnan graduates from four international cooperating programs including Yale-China/L (U) C Symposium on Global Strategic Leadership Program, Oxford-Lingnan Global Strategic Leadership Symposium, Master of Science in Global 3 Masters in Management, as well as MBA.

The activity was held in Plateno Group office, Shenzhen, with over 30 attendances on the day. Alumni outside the venue city traveled all the way from Guangzhou and even Hong Kong for the reunion.

Mr. Zheng Nanyan, the founder of Plateno Group and the Group’s CFO-Mr. Zhang Wei, shared their career development experiences and entrepreneurship with all alumni. Other than that, they also interacted with individuals by answering their questions regarding career life. The wisdom in their responses surely had an influence on alumni’s attitudes toward professionalism.

The discussion also involved the dissimilarities in terms of consuming habits as well as consuming concepts between older and younger generations in China. Alumni there with a wide range of age stages all happily joined this conversation since it really resonated with the group. Numerous ideas and opinions were exchanged, and no one was hesitate on presenting their thoughts because everyone there understood the importance of respecting insights and differences.

Many of alumni chose to stay and kept socializing when the event reached to the end, and almost everyone that night showed an intention of joining the reunion party again for next year.

WELCOME CLASS OF 2019

“If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.”  – Thomas Jefferson

Contributed by Alissa Rabat and Colleen Betik

Greetings from the third M.S. in Global Commerce class as we start our global business adventure at our first destination, the University of Virginia.

Our cohort consists of classmates from 13 different nationalities, who will be spending the next four months living together, attending the same classes, learning from each other about our various cultures, and sharing experiences. Our journey through this program will include a year-long business thesis, which we will begin working on at UVA and defend at our final destination, ESADE Business School in Barcelona, Spain. In between these two destinations, we will live and study at Lingnan College at Sun Yat-sen University in southern China, where we will learn about doing business in one of the world’s most critical emerging economies.

Ringing in the Year of the Dog and Concluding Our China Experience

Our last few weeks in China were jam packed with Spring Festival, team projects, and final exams. Spring Festival is the holiday surrounding Chinese New Year, and MSGC students had 10 days off to ring in the Year of the Dog! This gave us the opportunity to travel around China and experience this cultural event firsthand. I had the opportunity to go home with one of my Chinese classmates, Danyang, to celebrate the New Year with her family.  Other students made trips to see Beijing and the Great Wall, Shanghai with it's amazing skyline, and Xi'an, the eastern end of the Silk Road and site of the Bingmayong (Terra Cotta Army).

After Spring Festival, it was time to wrap up our classes at Lingnan. Three of our classes had final group projects and one class had a final exam. For each group project, we did an analysis of various companies across different continents on a specific business topic, such as supply chain or consumer behavior. My group, for example, looked at the factors that affect potato chip purchases in China and the United States, specifically for Pringles and Lay's. This allowed us to not only better understand multiple multinational companies, but also make comparisons about their global strategies and presence in different markets around the globe.

Overall, China was a fascinating, exciting, and challenging part of the program. From the food and culture to the teaching style and everyday life, it was different from anything I have ever experienced. After living there for 9 weeks, though, I can definitely say that I have broadened my global perspectives and gained a much better appreciation for Chinese culture. I will never forget ringing in the Chinese New Year eating homemade dumplings with Danyang's family, exploring the showroom of one of the world's largest drone producers, or hiking the Great Wall with classmates from all around the world. I can't believe how fast our time in China flew by.  Now, it's time for our next and final destination of the program: Barcelona, Spain!

Alumni in Action-2017

The M.S. in Global Commerce (MSGC) program is almost nearing the end of the U.S. term; it’s hard to believe how fast time flies! Even though the program is only in its second year, students from the inaugural class are already reaping the benefits from this unique global experience. Some of the major benefits of this program are the career services resources and alumni networks from three esteemed universities in the U.S., China, and Spain. We spoke with two alumni, Grace (works at Accenture) and Stoan (works at Volvo) about why they chose the program and its positive impact on their careers.

Why did you choose the MSGC program?

Grace: I chose the program specifically because of its international components. The truly immersive global experiences of this program enhance the degrees exponentially. I knew that I would receive an excellent education at UVA, but what really excited me were the opportunities this program provided for advancing my cross-cultural communication skills. These are skills that are useful in a global business environment, of course, but possibly even more important in a domestic setting. The communication, problem solving, and resiliency you develop through living overseas and working with people from different cultures and backgrounds provides you with a comprehensive, analytical mindset.  This outlook helps you to stand out as an employee in any environment.

Stoan: The program offered me an opportunity to go back to school, connect with companies all over the world, and travel to different parts of the globe all in one year. While M.S. degrees are not as well-known as the MBA, I believe programs like the M.S. in Global Commerce are bringing attention to the value of specialized master’s degrees. They meet the need of my generation’s demands for global agility.

Who would you recommend this program to?

Grace: I would recommend this program to any student with a strong, undergraduate business degree who wishes to further their education as well as develop a unique skill set to help them stand out in a global business career. The international component was a huge draw for me, and I would recommend it to anyone who is curious about expanding their global mindset.

Stoan: I would recommend this program to people interested in working in international business. It is one thing to understand that business is global, but a totally different experience to have lived and studied in three countries in just one year. This opportunity not only connects three top business schools, but provides the chance to live and work with students from all over the globe. I knew I wanted to work in a large multinational company, and this program gave me the qualifications desired by these global companies.

What type of career and/or networking benefits did this program provide for you?

Grace:  The professional and personal growth this program provided me was exceptional. Additionally, having master’s degrees from two internationally recognized universities like UVA and ESADE as well as a certificate from Lingnan provide you with a level of professional credibility that sets you apart from the competition. The relationships I made in the program are amazing. You will have friends, colleagues, and mentors around the world forever. I am so excited to see the impact and influence of these relationships throughout my career. The possibilities are limitless.

Stoan: The M.S. in Global Commerce allowed me to develop a global network. I now have contacts in three different business schools and can tap into their alumni networks as well. I owe my current position with Volvo to the hard work and dedication of the career services teams. They were clearly invested in all of our success and it was shown on both a group and individual basis.

PS. Here are some career destinations for class of 2017.

McIntire School of Commerce (USA), Lingnan College (China) and ESADE Business School (Spain) Celebrate Inaugural Graduates from Joint Program

A true global model

"The global business environment is becoming more complex and interconnected than ever", commented Josep Franch, Dean of ESADE Business School. “New multinational companies are increasingly demanding young executives with an international outlook, who are capable of successfully implementing global strategies and managing diverse multicultural teams”, he said. In response to this trend, "our three schools work closely together with an aim to train future business leaders who can meet society's demands with excellent global acumen and cultural awareness",noted Jun Lu, Executive Dean of Lingnan College. "This program and our first graduates should serve as a true global model", asserted Carl Zeithaml, Dean of the McIntire School of Commerce.

"This first year has proven the success of bringing together participants from a wide range of cultures–working in teams and doing fieldwork in different regions of the world",  commented Mr. Franch. "It has broadened their understanding of the world's different cultural and social realities; while the program has also fostered a common 'culture' among the group",he said. "Students have had an exceptional opportunity to be immersed in three different cultures and business environments to develop academic and professional abilities, which will be a valuable asset to their future careers",  Mr. Lu added.

"Commerce can be a tremendous catalyst for bringing people together in positive, productive ways", said Mr. Zeithaml. "I truly believe that, through programs which create real, thoughtful, and meaningful engagement with other people, we can build not only better businesses, but a better world".

One program, two degrees and three continents

This dual master's program consists of four months at the top-ranked University of Virginia; two months in Guangzhou, at one of China's top universities; and four months at ESADE's Barcelona campus. The program allows students to experience the cultural immersion of living on three different continents over the course of an academic year while being surrounded by students from different cultures and professional fields. Students enrolled in the master's programme receive an M.S. in Global Commerce from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia, a Certificate in International Business from Lingnan College and an MSc in Global Strategic Business from ESADE Business School.

Find out more about our program:

Website: http://lingnan.sysu.edu.cn/en/GlobalThreeProgramme

Email: lnmib@mail.sysu.edu.cn