SNHU to Partner with China School

By the fall of 2007, more than a dozen Chinese students could start working on master's degrees in business from a local college without stepping foot in the country.

Southern New Hampshire University has finalized a partnership with Beijing Sport University that will allow students to work toward MBAs online if the program receives approval from the Chinese Ministry of Education. The agreement would make SNHU the first college in New Hampshire to provide an online MBA program for students in China.

University President Paul LeBlanc said the program will bring in additional revenue for the university, but also tap into a market that welcomes American MBAs. He estimated China needs to produce 100,000 MBA graduates each year during the next decade, to keep up with the country's rapidly growing economy.

If approved, the MBA program would allow graduate students in China to enroll in one-year courses online that are taught by professors in New Hampshire. During the second year, students would come to SNHU and complete their degrees in classrooms, before receiving a job placement in a global corporation.

LeBlanc said the program was originally proposed as a two-year online program, but Chinese businesses and colleges were still skeptical about online education.

"Distance education is present in China, but in an earlier incarnation than it is here," LeBlanc said. "(The program) got a fairly chilly reception when it was introduced wholly online, but everyone sort of perked up when we changed it."

LeBlanc and several administrators traveled to China last month to participate in focus groups with corporations such as Disney and Microsoft, as well as to talk with 12 different Chinese universities. When they were done, LeBlanc said, it was clear both educators and businesses found an American MBA more valuable.

"We were consistently told that an American MBA was considered stronger because students here focus on soft skills (such as creativity and leadership)," he said. "What they were telling us is they're lacking individuality. We want employees who see a project go awry to raise their hand and address the problem, and that's not what is being produced in classes of 500."

Online classes in China typically include 100 students, whereas those at SNHU are usually limited to 15, according to director of communications Gregg Mazzola.

Officials said they had not considered the reversal of the program yet, which would allow American students to study in China. But they would not be opposed to the idea if the program was a success. Mazzola said SNHU is engaged in discussions with five other universities that could expand the program in China if it's accepted.

SNHU's main campus is in Manchester, with satellite campuses in Salem, Nashua, Portsmouth and Laconia.