Summer Programme @ NUSRI
2017
2017 Summer Programme @ Suzhou
CH3297: Chinese Business Enterprises and Management
OVERVIEW
The Department of Chinese Studies of Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) NUS and the NUS (Suzhou)
Research Institute (NUSRI) jointly offer CH3297 Chinese Business Enterprises and Management for
NUSRI’s 2017 Summer Programme from 28 May – 17 Jun 2017 to all university students.
NUSRI (www.nusri.cn) is the first overseas research institute of NUS that is located within Suzhou
Industrial Park (SIP). With the unrevealing of its new building in 2013, NUSRI has received groups of
students from NUS, SMU, NTU and overseas universities. For information on past programmes organised
by NUSRI, please visit http://www.nusri.cn/en/.
With lectures and fieldtrips conducted exclusively in Suzhou China, the objective of the programme is to
provide university students an in-depth exposure of the set-up and development of various types of
enterprises in China, so as to better understand and adapt to the social environment and business setting
in China.
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Over a period of three weeks, participants have opportunities to visit the state-owned enterprise, the ecommerce company, the multi-national company and the small and medium enterprise, such as Bank of
Suzhou, ASUS etc. Students get to know the operational and strategical challenges companies face in a
competitive environment of the rising China through direct interaction with the enterprise leaders. Related
lectures on geographic and economic landscapes, cultural and social environment in China will be given
before or after each visit.
Suzhou, winner of the 2014 Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, is referred as the “Oriental Venice”. The
Classical Gardens in Suzhou (total 69 preserved gardens) are all recognised as the UNESCO heritage sites.
Modern Suzhou, as one of the most prosperous cities in China, is home to many aspiring entrepreneurs.
Students will get ready to discover an incredible array of historical and cultural attractions in a place where
skyscrapers coexist with beautifully preserved old town of Suzhou and other cities.
PROGRAMME CREDITS AND ASSESSMENT
Students will be able to receive 4 MCs under CH3297 upon successful completion of the programme and
required assessments. There are total 4 assessments, including 3 presentation and 1 final report. The
module will be registered in the second semester of AY2017/18.
PROGRAMME COST
The programme fee is S$1,980 and includes the following:
•
Double occupancy lodging throughout the programme
•
Local transportation for planned activities
•
Activities and lessons in Suzhou and other cities of China
•
Meals during major occasions
Students who register before 10 March 2017 could enjoy special rate of S$1,780.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Application (Deadline: 10 April 2017)
For NUS students, please apply and find out available financial subsidies via NUS IRO portal.
For non-NUS students, please apply through NUSRI website (http://www.nusri.cn/en/edu/2017-summerprogramme)
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REVIEWS AND COMMENTS FROM PAST PARTICIPANTS
Gabriella Redgment (Business School, University of Western Australia)
2014 Winter Immersion Programme Participant
"This opportunity to study abroad in Suzhou, China has been the best experience of my undergraduate
degree so far, as I have been pushed out of my comfort zone discovering a new culture; I believe this has
furthered my growth on an academic and personal level."
Goh Shi Ying (Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore)
2015 Summer Immersion Programme Participant
"NUSRI Summer Programme 2015 has been great experiences, where I get to understand the way of life in
China, understand China’s heritage and the economy. To be able to see various companies and hear from
them the motivation and methodology behind running a successful industry in China is truly insightful."
Ang Ying Xin (School of Design&Environment, National University of Singapore)
2015 Winter Immersion Programme Participant
"This programme has not only provided us with the technical knowledge but also the physical chance to
see what is actually happening in China. The industrial visits were well arranged presenting good linkage
with the lecture topics. We get to see and listen from local companies and foreign companies to understand
what challenges they are currently facing in the Chinese market. Guest lecturers have given constructive
point of view and allow us to hear from successful entrepreneurs what they have been through. Hearing
from such experienced speakers serves as a motivation for me. I aspire to be like them, to learn from them
and to open up more collaboration opportunities and further my eye sight to possible business opportunities
in China."
Daing Muhammad Irfan Bin Mohamed Farhan (Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore)
2015 Winter Immersion Programme Participant
"In conclusion after this program, I am very satisfied with the programme NUSRI provided for us. Stepping
outside of my comfort zone allows me to think better and how I can improve myself better for the future.
This program has allowed me to develop my business ideas more creatively. I would strongly recommend
this programme to those who are interested in business and startup."
Ow Song Sim Dennys (Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore)
2016 Summer Immersion Programme Participant
“Please continue to promote this trip, because it is of utmost importance for students to discover how lifechanging this trip can be.”
Jan Bronauer (Yale-NUS College, National University of Singapore)
2016 Winter Immersion Programme Participant
“On December 24, the NUSRI Winter Programme 2016 in Suzhou concluded-a programme which proved to
be much more encompassing, diverse and lively than I had expected before I joined. Almost three weeks of
exploring, learning, presenting as well as networking with professionals gave me very close insights into
China which will help me enormously in the future.”
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Tan Jian Cheng (Business School, National University of Singapore)
2016 Winter Immersion Programme Participant
“Throughout the Winter Programme that spanned across a period of three weeks, I have been exposed to
the various operational strategies and framework has broaden my intellectual boundaries and shaped my
thinking process. Furthermore, the opportunities to visit industrial and cultural sites offer a glimpse of
China’s history, culture and actual business environment besides drawing good linkage with the lecture
topics. The interactions with domestic companies and local people have undoubtedly enriched my study
experiences that will be beneficial to me in the future. In conclusion, I believe that learning is an on-going
process as it helps in broadening my intellectual knowledge and aided in my personal development. This
Winter Programme has been fruitful and undoubtedly added value to my learning journey in the university.
Having reflected on the amazing study experiences over the past weeks made me believe that I have made
the right decision in joining this programme, as not only did I establish new friendships but also creates new
sentimental memories.”
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PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS
1. Lecture: Tapping into China’s E-business Market
Have you heard about the recent “legend” of Bachelor’s Day or the online shopping carnival in China?
Recently, Taobao has exceeded a total daily transaction of 35 billion Yuan (USD 5.71 billion). With 580
million online shoppers, the rapid development of e-commerce in China is hitting a new high. The lecture
is intended to provide an understanding of the development of e-business in China. This will involve the
various forces which influence the behavior of national and international firms, thereby providing an
appreciation of the global nature of e-business. The lecture will discuss a range of interesting case studies
including Alibaba Group. This case aims to provide students with an understanding of electronic
marketplace in terms of contemporary online technology, theoretical, conceptual and practical
applications of the issues involved in China’s e-business market.
2. Lecture: Chinese Economy and Firms Strategic Alliances: the Importance of Cross-cultural Literacy
Globalization implies that firms operate in different countries, and the presence of foreign companies is
regularly cited as a major factor explaining Chinese rapid development - notably through the policy of
“Special Economic Zones”. This lecture will start by recalling some facts about Chinese development and
growth policies since the beginning of the reforms in 1978. It will serves as a pretext to introduce the
problematic of strategic alliances between companies. Then the lecturer will explain how complex can be
such alliances when they involve partners from different cultures.
3. Lecture: Chinese Local Enterprises: SMEs and SOEs
Four decades after the reforms which progressively opened China’s market to the world, the country has
gone through fundamental transformations in the structure and ownerships of its native enterprises.
Indeed, starting from a planned economy with a general collectivization of productive activities, the
economic reforms of 1978 set into motion the entrepreneurial changes that propelled China to its current
place in the global economy. Key milestones in this process include the liberalization of entrepreneurship
in the early 1980s, and the large-scale privatization of State-owned enterprises in the 1990s. As this gradual
transfer of market ownership - from public to private – has successfully unfolded in the past decades, it is
now largely recognized that not only the productive but also the innovative capacity of the Chinese market
rests with SMEs. State-owned enterprises (SOEs), on the other hand, have seen their market share
significantly decreased but, when compared to other market economies, still play an important role in the
provision of public and strategic goods and services. In this context, this course aims at providing students
with an overview of different forms of enterprise ownership in China – i.e. SMEs and SOEs. This will then
be followed by deeper analytical insights on (i) the historical emergence of each type of ownership, (ii) the
past and present contribution of these enterprises to the Chinese economy, and (iii) the challenges they
are facing with the current economic slowdown.
4. Lecture: Social-Cultural Environment of Doing Business in China
China is one of the cradles of world civilization. With nearly 4,000 years of recorded history and over 1.4
billion population, doing business in China confronts opportunities and challenges, successes and failures.
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One of the main reasons for failure is the lack of knowledge of the business dynamics and environments
of China. The famous Chinese military classics, The Art of War by Sun Zi, says that, “by understanding
yourself and your enemies, you will have hundred winnings in hundred battles”. The lecture will focus on
analysing the social-cultural environment of China, in particular the influence of Confucianism, Chinese
kinship and family system, which are closely related to the formation of the Chinese mind-set and world
view.
5. Lecture: Suzhou Wu Culture and Scholars’ Gardens
“Wu” refers to the region in the Jiangnan area (the south of the Yangtze River), in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang
provinces of China. The two largest cities in the Wu region are Shanghai and Hangzhou. The Wu language
and its dialects are spoken in this region. As one vital part of the Chinese traditional civilization, the Wu
Culture has a long history which may be traced back to 4000 years ago. The city of Suzhou (also called Wu)
has traditionally been the capital of the Wu states. One distinctive example of Wu culture is classical
Chinese gardens, which seek to recreate natural landscapes in miniature and reflect the profound
metaphysical importance of natural beauty in Chinese culture. The earliest gardens in Suzhou date back to
its foundation in the 6th century BC, but it was during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and in particular the
16th to 18th centuries, that the city's prosperity resulted in the creation of as many as two hundred
gardens within its walls. Their quality and profusion earned Suzhou the title of the "Earthly Paradise" and
the classical gardens acknowledged on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The lecture will introduce the
historical background of Wu culture and the essence of Chinese classical or scholars’ gardens in Suzhou.
6. Industry Learning and Dialogue Session at ASUS
Do you know how many kinds of tests any laptop has to go through before it is being sold? Come to ASUS
Research & Design Centre in Suzhou to discover these “secrets” yourself and learn how ASUS, a worldwide
top-three consumer notebook vendor, can continue being a market leader in this ever-changing industry.
7. Industry Learning and Dialogue Session at Bank of Suzhou
The bank plays a central role in the allocation of the resources in the market. Different from state-owned
commercial bank, the Bank of Suzhou has combined with the regional social and economic status to serve
the development of local economy and society. Come to explore how the Bank of Suzhou makes
sustainable development.
8. China Art Appreciation: Fan Painting
During the Neolithic period, the Chinese people began to practise the art of painting on pottery vessels. A
fan is transformed into a piece of artwork when it is combined with calligraphy and painting. Fan painting
plays an indispensable role in the art history. In this lecture, you will understand that the Chinese painters’
artistic language is very different from that of the Westerners. By mastering the techniques and artistic
language of painting, you can see how Chinese paintings reflect Chinese history.
9. Historical sites visits
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A range of historical sites visits in Suzhou and other cities of China will be arranged, such as Humble
Administrator’s Garden, Suzhou Museum and Pingjiang Road, etc.
Note: The highlights of the programme are subject to modifications without compromising its overall
objectives.
MAIN PROGRAMME FACILITATORS
Prof. Lee Cheuk Yin is an academic member of the Department of Chinese Studies at the Faculty of Arts
and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore. Prof Lee graduated from the University of Hong Kong
(B.A., First Class Honours; M. Phil.) and received his doctorate from the Australian National University. A
former Swire Scholar and Commonwealth Scholar, his research interests include Chinese intellectual
history, Chinese business culture, East-Asian Confucianism, and Chinese beliefs and customs. He has served
as Sub-Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences and Head of the Department of Chinese Studies, at the
National University of Singapore, and is currently Director of the Wan Boo Sow Research Centre for Chinese
Culture and Programme Director of NUS-PKU Double MA Degree (Chinese Language) Programme at NUS.
He is also Guest Professor of Wuhan University, Nanjing University and Hubei University, China. Prof Lee is
concurrently Council Member of the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony, Government of Singapore,
and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Chinese Programmes of the Media Development Authority
of Singapore. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital, Singapore Chinese
Calligraphy Centre and Nan Hua Primary School.
CONTACT US
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For further queries, please email to [email protected] or [email protected].
You might also want to visit NUSRI website www.nusri.cn for programme updates.
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