BY KAYLA VAN EPS
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The Center for Business held its second annual event “Global Innovation: Doing Business in China” last Tuesday.
The CB has been working extensively to build a strong connection with schools in China to give students at MSUM an insight into international business and communication. This year, in addition to the evening keynote addresses and discussion panel, there was a student panel.
Students who traveled with professor Ruth Lumb to China for three weeks in 2009 spoke on a panel about their time in China and the experiences they encountered.
Lumb said in an interview that she enjoyed listening to the students’ recollection of their time because they saw and experienced China much differently than she did.
“I have traveled to China many times,” Lumb said. “So, I see and experience it based on the many other times I have been there, but these students noticed things and experienced things that were completely new to them. It was interesting to listen to their accounts of the same trip.”
The student panel was aimed to raise interest and get information out to students who are interested in the new certificate programs offered through the CB.
Lumb advocated that any student interested can participate in future trips to China without being enrolled in a business certificate. The evening event featured a keynote address from Ramu Damodaran, United Nations ambassador from New York via a video he recorded for the event.
Vivek Pathak, the director and global head in International Finance Corporation of the World Bank gave a keynote speech through interactive video from Washington, D.C.
A message passed along by many speakers was that of cross-cultural respect. Trixana Wang, who presented via pre-recorded video, said the easiest way to gain trust and respect is by trying to speak a little Chinese.
Steven Dickinson, an attorney at Fredrikson & Byron in Minneapolis, spoke of law differences when making business transactions between countries.
The final event of the night was a panel discussion by four area business professionals who spoke of their experiences specifically in China.
Lumb said she thought the events went well, and that there will be another Global Innovations event next year, but it may focus on a different country or region.
The event was organized by the committee of Dean Marsha Weber, professors Peter Geib, Ruth Lumb and Jinpei Wu and administration specialist Lisa Johnson.
For more information on the new certificate programs offered or for the summer trip to China, visit the School of Business’ website.