The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is China’s largest infrastructure project yet, and could change the country’s MBA job market profoundly.
The $900 billion initiative was launched by president Xi Jinping in 2013, with the aim of increasing trade, and boosting economic growth in Asia and beyond.
Modelled after China’s ancient ‘Silk Road’ trading routes, BRI projects stretch from Greece to Sri Lanka, and include the construction of railways, ports, and energy plants.
Ambitious projects like this have the potential to create huge shifts in the global economic landscape. To achieve success, the BRI will need a large workforce of talented managers: that’s where China’s business schools come in.
To find out what the BRI means for MBAs in China, we spoke to Dr. Andrew Yuen, senior lecturer and associate director of e-learning for MBA programs at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).
Insight from inside the BRI
Many of China’s business schools are doing their best to prepare students for the new economic landscape—and career opportunities—being created by the BRI.
At CUHK, for instance, MBA students can learn more about the BRI and what it means for them.
“In 2020, CUHK Business School is launching a new course focusing on the Belt and Road initiative, and the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Ecosystem,” explains Andrew.
As well as learning about the BRI in the classroom, students have the chance to hear from Chinese professionals who are directly involved with the initiative.
“Guest speakers who are experts in Chinese business, especially the BRI and GBS, are invited to share their valuable experience with our students,” Andrew notes.
Later in the module, MBA students travel to Khorgos, Kazakhstan to gain some hands-on experience of the BRI.
Situated on the Kazakh-Chinese border, Khorgos is home to a ‘dry port’. Here, when construction is complete, Chinese freight will be loaded onto trains for transportation to Europe.
“On the trip, students have the opportunity to meet with local government officials and business leaders, as well as representatives of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce,” says Andrew.
During these meetings, students got to grips with the latest BRI projects being carried out in the country.
“Students also visited the border between China and Kazakhstan to experience the cross-border trade between the two countreis,” Andrew adds.
BIR Challenges
In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, the BRI has slowed. Many countries within the Belt and Road region, like Russia, have closed their border with China.
“In the short term, it is unavoidable that the initiative will be slowed down,” says Andrew. “The outbreak almost froze different kinds of international economic cooperation and international flows of people.”
If the Chinese government can work with Belt-Road countries to contain the outbreak, though, this will create a strong foundation for future relationships, he believes.
The BRI and MBA jobs
In the coming years, we can expect to see more large-scale infrastructure projects like the Khorgos dry port going ahead.
“These will include railways, seaports, and energy and utilities facilities,” says Andrew. With so many large-scale projects come jobs, he adds.
“These projects create business opportunities in project management, project financing, insurance risk management, construction, transportation facilities management, and more,” Andrew explains.
With their abilities in project management and financial acumen, MBAs will be in a good position to take up these kinds of roles.
The burgeoning infrastructure being built will also make local resources more accessible. Many Belt-Road countries are rich in oil, natural gas, and minerals. When these reserves become more accessible, further opportunities will open up in the extraction and supply chain spaces.
“Given the economic growth driven by the BRI, these [Belt-Road] countries will also become potential new markets for Chinese exporting businesses,” Andrew believes.
Entering a new market can be challenging, and these businesses will require employees with a sophisticated skillset— MBA graduates from Chinese schools are well-placed to fill the gap.
At CUHK, for instance, students on the MBA program can undertake modules in Marketing Management and Strategic Marketing, which cover topics like market segmentation and targeting.
Overall, the opportunities being created by the BRI are significant and varied, Andrew believes. For MBAs in China looking for a challenging and impactful role, getting involved with BRI initiatives could be the answer.
This article was originally published in April 2020
I studied Bioinformatics at CUHK last year. It was the only Master's degree in Hong Kong in this field. This program developed my analytical skills and equipped me to be a Bioinformatician in a very practical way.
I enjoyed my year here and met classmates from different parts of the world. If you are thinking to enhance your profile, this degree program would be a good option.
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19/11/2021
On Campus
general education courses, unique college system, large campus
The university facilitates multi-dimension and interdisciplinary learning. In social science faculty, we need to choose courses as our faculty package from other departments (architecture, psychology, sociology, etc.) to learn more than our major required courses. We are also required to finish general education courses, which aid our critical thinking and humanistic sensibilities. I do recommend the social science broad-based program, and the professors I met so far are all responsible and erudite.
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28/10/2017
LLM
The faculty of law is relatively new. You do not need to have a LLB to pursue a LLM, which is special. The taught programme is great for mature students who want to obtain legal knowledge.
CUHK has good teaching staff too.
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20/10/2017
Amazing Campus and Great Educational Environment
Not only is CUHK's main campus breathtaking, it provides for a good educational environment for students. The university is well-equipped with modern and up-to-date facilities to help students with their study. We have 8 libraries in total around the campus; one for media, one for architectural studies, the medical library and the law library. The Professors are always helpful and are happy to talk to students when needed.
Moreover, the college system within the university brings forth the uniqueness of CUHK. Each student belongs to a different college, and in that students are able to meet different peoples from different countries and students from different faculties.
I think CUHK provides for a well-rounded university life for all students.
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17/10/2017
exthrillating
One of the most down to earth places in HK. A great opportunity to learn and embody the local culture. Also had one the most beautiful campus in Hong Kong up on the hillside. Glad to have graduated here.
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5/10/2017
Innovative and Supportive
My university provided me with all the support I needed, and encouraged me to be up to date with all the new developments in the world. They also provided me with the incentive to excel at what I do, and they take much pride in my achievements. I have had a very rewarding university experience.
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2/10/2017
Small, New But Friendly Law School
To being with, I think the campus of CUHK is the best and the biggest in Hong Kong, with fresh air and trees everywhere.
I am an undergraduate Law student at CUHK and I think the teaching here is great, with very friendly and nice professors and the new Lee Shau Kee Building.
In terms of the courses offered by CUHK, as one of the largest universities in Hong Kong, CUHK is an all-rounded university, offering a wide range of courses to students. Students may take the introductory courses of discipline other than their own major, or even declare a minor.
For law electives, due to the small amount of intake, the variety of law electives are not that huge. However, the Faculty is offering some international programmes, which can be treated as law electives, but at the same time, provide us with an opportunity to travel and know more about the legal system of another country.
The career support from the Faculty of Law is also amazing. The Faculty will organise CV Sessions and talks on how to get an internship from law firms or mini-pupillage from barrister's chambers. Each student will also have a Distinguished Professional Mentor, which is a current legal profession, providing us with practical advices and updates of the legal field.
Finally, from my personal experience, I think the students in CUHK are friendly and genuine. As Law students, competition is inevitable for grades, GPAs, vacation schemes and training contract. However, I think the competition in CUHK Law School is a positive one, in a sense that help us grow together, instead of fighting with each other no matter what. That is the biggest reason why I am having a very good time here in CUHK Law School.
Student
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30/09/2017
A place to explore your interests
As a law graduate from CUHK (both undergrad and post-grad), I realise that I had many opportunities to explore my areas of interests (legal and non-legal both). The faculty/university requires us to take a certain number of non-law electives, and offers a plethora of courses to choose from. Personally, I took 3 modules in Korean --I can't say it's made me highly proficient, but it's definitely given me a good foundation (I can walk into a Korean restaurant and confidently order food, at the very least). The fact that language courses are offered also provides students who are more financially constrained an opportunity to learn a language without having to shell out a premium for a decent language course. On top of that, we have a range of law electives as well. I know of classmates who have developed lasting interest in different areas of law because of the electives they took in school. The two electives that I would say have changed me is (i) mooting and (ii) family law. I think my experience in an international commercial arbitration moot competition has helped tremendously in formulating legal arguments and legal writing. On the other hand, taking a family law elective has made me very interested in the family law practice, especially in terms of child rights. For these experiences which I have gained, I'm grateful for the opportunities provided by the school.
One main issue most students I know have is with the way our GPA is calculated and the lack of transparency in terms of how the honours system works. As our GPA is marked on a curve. it's highly unrepresentative of what we have achieved as individuals. Given that our GPA is the only criteria that is looked at when we apply for the compulsory post-graduate law course (mandatory should we want to practise law and/or be trainees in Hong Kong), it will put our own students at a distinct disadvantage when we compete for limited spaces with students from schools where GPA is not on a bell curve.
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27/06/2022
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Valuable time in CUHK
I like the learning environment and people at CUHK. Surrounded by hills and Tolo Harbour, CUHK provides a balance between nature and hustle. You can always escape from the busy study life and meet your friend around the big campus for different activities.
