The program is one of many initiatives HBS is pursuing in China. HBS recently launched a China educational immersion program, with 70 MBA students spending winter break traveling to Beijing, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and other locations. The second semester of the MBA program will feature a new elective titled “Doing Business in China in the Early 21st Century.” In 1999, Harvard Business School opened its Asia Pacific Research Center in Hong Kong.
The PCMPCL program, which was launched in early 2005 upon the request of the Chinese Ministry of Education, receives the support of the Ministries of Education in China, Taiwan and Singapore. According to HBS news release, more than 216 business educators, including 37 deans and associate deans from Greater China’s top 20 business schools, have already completed the program. PCMPCL participating schools include Peking University, Fudan University, Tsinghua University, China Renmin University, China Europe International Business School, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, National Taiwan University, National Taiwan Chengchi University, and National University of Singapore.
Signaling their commitment to participant-centered learning, a number of schools are making significant investments in facilities to enable this style of teaching. Taiwan National University, Fudan University, Xiamen University, and others have built HBS-style amphitheater classrooms.
The participating schools see PCMPCL as a faculty development program. The participants–who are selected and recommended by their school dean and other administrators– learn how to design a course, research and write an effective case based on a real-life situation, and lead classroom discussions.
“As the community of scholars in China who are committed to participant-centered teaching grows, we’re seeing a significant impact on the quality of management education there,” said Professor Paul Marshall. He added, “At the same time, by working so closely with the top business schools in China, HBS faculty members are gaining insights into China which will enrich their teaching and research activities here in Boston.” HBS Professor and Senior Associate Dean Howard Stevenson and Professor Paul Marshall were the co-chairs of the program.
