The Contemporary China Studies Programme
Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Syllabus: Internship Seminar
Description: This internship seminar course provides students with an opportunity to
learn first-hand about the development and special features of the city of Shanghai, the
economic capital of China. The combination of classroom learning with a weekly
internship placement will help students gain a broader understanding both of their
respective internship institutions and the institutions’ role in the larger context of the
Shanghai society and economy.
Course instructor: Yuan Cheng with Guest speakers
Yuan Cheng is currently an associate professor at the Population Research Institute at
Fudan University. He received his B.A. from the Political Science Department at Jilin
University in Harbin, Heilongjiang. He received two MSc degrees, one in
Population Economics from Fudan University, and the other from the University of Oslo
in Demographics from the Department of Economics. He did his doctoral work at the
Population Research Institute at Fudan University, and received his PhD in 2004.
Method of Presentation: Students are placed in a Shanghai-based business, NGO or
other type of agency for 8 hours a week for the duration of the semester. The seminar
will meet for 2 hours for a total of ten sessions. Students will work on independent
research projects related to their internship placement and present their research at the
conclusion of the semester.
Language of instruction: English, with the introduction of relevant Chinese terms
Required work and
and form of assessment: Attendance is strictly required. To facilitate an
early start on the research paper and sustained engagement on a topic of his or her
own choosing, each student will give a presentation on his or her research to the
seminar and provide a written draft of the work in progress. The final grade is based
upon class participation (25%), evaluation letter from the host organization (25%), and
the student field placement portfolio and presentation [work journal, research seminar
presentation, 20 pp final paper] (50%).
Required readings:
1. Boye Lafayette De Mente (1994), Chinese Etiquette & Ethics In Business, page
16-29
2. Daniel H. Rosen (1999). Behind the Open Door. Chapter Three: Foreign Enterprises
and Human Resources (p.85-p.120)
3. Dong, X.Y. & Putterman, L. (2000). China’s State-Owned Enterprises: Their Role,
Job Creation, and Efficiency in Long-Term Perspective. Modern China An
International Quarterly of History and Social Science, 26 (4), 403-447.
4. Gu, X.Y and Tang, S.L. (1995). “Reform of the Chinese Health Care Financing
System”. Health Policy, Volume 32, Number 1, April 1995, pp. 181-191(11)
5. Hongying Wang (2001). Weak State, Strong Networks: The Institutional Dynamics
of Foreign Direct Investment in China. p87-113
6. Hu, W.Z. & Grove. C. (1999). Encountering the Chinese, A Guide for Americans.
Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, Inc. pp59-75 (making Chinese friends)
7. Hu, W.Z. & Grove. C. (1999). Encountering the Chinese, A Guide for Americans.
Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, Inc. pp95- 112 (decision-making)
8. Hussain, A. (2002), “Demographic Transition in China and its Implications”, World
Development, Volume 30, Number 10, October 2002, pp. 1823-1834(12)
9. Jia, W. (2005). Facework as a Chinese Conflict-Preventive Mechanism A Cultural/
Discourse Analysis. Retrieved July 23, 2007, from http://academic.mediachina.net/
academic_zjlt_lw_view.jsp?id=4146&pepl e=48
10. John Child, Management and Organizations in China: Key Trends and Issues,
Management and Organizations in the Chinese Context: Page 33-62
11. Peng, X.Z and Guo, Z. The Changing Population of China, 2000, Blackwell Press,
ISBN-13: 978-0631201922.
12. Peng, X.Z. (2002). “Is this the Right Time to Change China's Population Policy?”
(Working Paper) East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore
13. Rosen, D.H. (1999). Behind the Open Door. Chapter Three: Foreign Enterprises and
Human Resources (p.85-p.120)
14. Wu, J.L. (2005) Understanding and Interpreting Chinese Economic Reform, .
ISBN: 1-587-99197-7.
Other Recommended readings:
1. Boye Lafayette De Mente (1994), Chinese Etiquette & Ethics In Business, page
16-29
2. Daniel H. Rosen (1999). Behind the Open Door. Chapter Three: Foreign Enterprises
and Human Resources (p.85-p.120)
3. Dong, X.Y. & Putterman, L. (2000). China’s State-Owned Enterprises: Their Role,
Job Creation, and Efficiency in Long-Term Perspective. Modern China An
International Quarterly of History and Social Science, 26 (4), 403-447.
4. Frolic, B. M. State-Led Civil Society. In Brook T. & Frolic B.M. (Ed). (1997). Civil
Society in China. pp.47-67.
5. Gu, X.Y and Tang, S.L. (1995). “Reform of the Chinese Health Care Financing
System”. Health Policy, Volume 32, Number 1, April 1995, pp. 181-191(11)
6. Gui, S.X. and Liu, X. (1992). “Urban Migration in Shanghai, 1950-88: Trends and
Characteristics”, Population and Development Review, 18, No3, 1992.
7. Hongying Wang (2001). Weak State, Strong Networks: The Institutional Dynamics
of Foreign Direct Investment in China. p87-113
8. Hu, W.Z. & Grove. C. (1999). Encountering the Chinese, A Guide for Americans.
Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, Inc. pp59-75 (making Chinese friends)
9. Hu, W.Z. & Grove. C. (1999). Encountering the Chinese, A Guide for
Americans.Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, Inc. pp95- 112 (decision-making)
10. Hussain, A. (2002), “Demographic Transition in China and its Implications”, World
Development, Volume 30, Number 10, October 2002, pp. 1823-1834(12)
11. Jia, W. (2005). Facework as a Chinese Conflict-Preventive Mechanism A
Cultural/Discourse
Analysis.
Retrieved
July
23,
2007,
from
http://academic.mediachina.net/academic_zjlt_lw_view.jsp?id=4146&pepl e=48
12. John Child, Management and Organizations in China: Key Trends and Issues,
Management and Organizations in the Chinese Context: Page 33-62
13. Liang, Z and Ma, Z.D. (2004), “China's Floating Population: New Evidence from the
2000 Census”, Population and Development Review 30 (3), 467–488.
14. Lin, Y.T, My country and my people, 2000, Foreign Language Teaching and Research
Press, ISBN/CIP: 7560014224
15. Ming-Jer Chen (2001). Networking and Guanxi, Inside Chinese Business: A Guide for
Managers Worldwide, Page 45-65
16. Paul N. and Alfred L. Chan. Chinese Youth and Civil Society: The Emergence of
Critical Citizenship. Civil Society in China. pp149-171
17. Peng, X.Z and Guo, Z. The Changing Population of China, 2000, Blackwell Press,
ISBN-13: 978-0631201922.
18. Peng, X.Z. (2002). “Is this the Right Time to Change China's Population Policy?”
(Working Paper) East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore
19. Rosen, D.H. (1999). Behind the Open Door. Chapter Three: Foreign Enterprises and
Human Resources (p.85-p.120)
20. Sachs,J.D. and Woo, W.T: “Understanding China's Economic Performance”
21. http://www.econ.ucdavis.edu/workingpapers/workingPaperPDF/97-04.pdf
22. Tang, S.L., Bloom,G., Feng, X.S., Lucas,H., Gu, X.Y. and Segau, M. (1994).
“Financing health services in China: Adopting to economic reform”. IDS Research
Report 26, Institute of Development Studies, Brighton
23. The American Embassy in China. Chinese NGO’s – Caring a Niche Within
Constraints. A January 2003 report from Embassy Beijing. Retrieved July 10, 2007
from http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/sandt/ngos.htm.
24. Wu, J.L. (2005) Understanding and Interpreting Chinese Economic Reform, .
ISBN: 1-587-99197-7.
25. Yang,G. Environmental NGOs and Institutional Dynamics in China, the China
Quarterly, 2005
Content:
Part One: Understanding China’s Economic Development
The presentation starts with introducing the ongoing evolutionary process from the
so-called Chinese centrally planned economy to the market economy. Additionally, we
will then further explore in a general perspective how that economic development has
fundamental and comprehensive effects on areas beyond the economic dimension,
such as urban planning, energy use and environmental protection, migration, marriage
and family, poverty and inequality, public health, and education. In conjunction with
this topic, students will learn more about the importance in the international trade
between China and the EU and visit a state-run enterprise Company to learn about the
impact of the recent industrial readjustments in China.
Required Readings: Wu, J.L.
Part Two: Different Workplaces and Different Characteristics
This session will focus first on introducing the newly emerging characteristics of
State-Owned Enterprises (SOE). Once simply treated as the historical legacies of the
inefficient, Mao-era command economy, and then abandoned with Deng’s reforms in
the 1990’s, SOE’s have been reinvented as new and, to some extent, highly competitive
economic players. To contrast the SOEs, we will investigate the significant
contributions that the Foreign-Owned Enterprises (FIE), the Joint Ventures (JVs) and
private companies have made for China’s economic development. We will also begin to
look at the rise of the civil society and Non-Governmental Organizations in China.
Required Readings: Dong, X.Y. & Putterman, L
Hongying Wang
Part Three: The Cultural Fabric of the Chinese Workplace
Workplace
This seminar will help students make sense of the deeply embedded and uniquely
Chinese cultural aspects of their work places. Several unique Chinese perspectives, such
as “Mianzi” (face) and “Guanxi” (connections) will be intensively discussed and
clarified. This seminar will explore the concepts, the importance and manifestation of
those issues, as well as how those issues affect individual behavior, organizational
culture, decision-making and the cultural clashes between Chinese and westerners.
Required Readings: Boye Lafayette De Mente
Jia, W.
Part Four: Foreigners in the city of Shanghai
We will review the history and the contemporary issues related to the integration of
foreigners in the city of Shanghai. Economic opportunities and related issues for
Westerns especially in the job market. Topics will include strategies for westerners to be
competitive in the Shanghai job market.
Required Readings:
Daniel H. Rosen
Hu, W.Z. & Grove. C.
Part Five: Immigration matters
Since 1990, Shanghai has launched a strong and sustainable economic increase
founded on the economic reform policies initiated by Deng Xiaoping. Even by the
standards of the rapid economic development witnessed by the so-called Asian Four
Tigers, Shanghai’s achievement is very impressive. We will look into this Shanghai
Miracle and examine the role of immigration. Namely, during these years of rapid
growth, a great deal of capital, labor and technology has “MIGRATED” into Shanghai.
Shanghai now is not simply its original, historical local community; more precisely,
Shanghai is a national city of China, a regional city of Asia and even a very global city.
Most important, during this rapid process of growth and modernization, Shanghai has
managed to keep improving its institutions and growth engines. That is to say, the city
has kept pace with the planning needed to handle and sustain the influx or so-called
“MIGRATING Resources” of young, able, professional people from Asia and Western
countries working in Shanghai. Shanghai has fully & clearly realized that managing
immigration crucially influences the sustainability of Shanghai’s future economic
development.
Required Readings:
Hussain, A.
Peng, X.Z.
Part Six: Changes in family structure in the city of Shanghai: oneone-child policy,
ageing and marriage market squeeze
Demographic research shows that in China, at least in urban areas, younger
generations intend to delay their marriage, young couples tend to delay their
child-bearing or even forego having a child, divorce rates are rising, the number of
single-parent households has increased, and the sex ratio has become unbalanced.
These massive and rapid social changes have a significant impact on a variety of
socio-economic factors. This seminar in particular will help students explore the ways in
which these factors and social pressures manifest themselves in the workplace. And for
students placed in social service organizations, this seminar will serve to encapsulate
many of the issues being actively addressed by the NGO’s where they work.
Required Readings:
Peng, X.Z and Guo, Z.
Part Seven: Introduction of China’s health security system reform: problems and
challenges
The problems and consequences of the Chinese health system have aroused attention
from the society, as the country has transitioned from a command economy that
included state provided health care to more of a market economy with some
privatization of health care. This seminar will help students understand the
ever-changing nature of the health care system in China.
Required Readings:
Gu, X.Y and Tang, S.L.
Part Eight: Governmental education policy and professional training provided by the
workplace
This week looks at human resources strategies and in particular the various strategies
and approaches to work force development – both through official government and
educational channels and through company-specific channels.
Required Readings:
Peng, X.Z and Guo, Z.
Handout
Part Nine through Fourteen: Student presentations and Guest speakers
Internship Placements:
Students will be placed across a variety of segments of the economy, including foreign
companies, Chinese companies, educational and non-governmental organizations.
Placements will emphasize work on a specific project with discreet deliverables to ones
supervisor. Chinese language competence will play a significant role in placements,
and may limit the ability to place a student in his or her desired industry. The success of
a student’s internship placement requires regular communication with and feedback
between the student and the internship supervisor. Learning and skills stressed in the
internship include deepening ones understanding of contemporary China and the ways
in which political, social and economic changes underway in the country manifest
themselves in the workplace.