On September 26, 2014, Tianjin University of Finance and Economics (TUFE) and Trinity Western University (TWU) presented the first-ever Red Bridge Forum. The event, which featured a variety of speakers such as TUFE President Li Weian and TWU President Bob Kuhn, examined themes such as corporate governance, corporate philosophy, and international business issues.
“It’s quite amazing that a small liberal arts university from Canada has the opportunity to contribute to the development of the business community in China,” said Murray MacTavish, Ph.D., Director of TWU’s Great Wall MBA program. “It’s a privilege for TWU to be a part of that.”
Over 100 business professionals—including many from Tianjin and Beijing—attended the event, which was held the day before the ceremony for the first-ever graduating class from TWU’s Great Wall MBA program.
TWU’s Spartans men’s volleyball team—many of whom are business majors—also attended. The Spartans were in China as part of their Goodwill China Tour, which launched in 2011 to help raise awareness of the value of a TWU education to international learners.
The 2014 Goodwill China Tour brought Chinese and Canadian students closer together using the common bond of sport. The Spartans men’s volleyball team travelled to Shanghai to play Fudan University on September 22nd. On the 23rd, they spent the day training and collaborating with the Tang Dynasty professional volleyball program. TWU is the first Canadian University to work out and collaboratively train with the top professional volleyball program in China. The team then travelled to Tianjin for matches on September 26 against Tianjin Polytechnic University.
During the 2013 Goodwill Tour, TWU publicly launched the Great Wall International MBA program in collaboration with TUFE. The Great Wall MBA is an 18-month program offered executive-style, with classes held on specific weekends over the course of the program. Fully taught in English, the program allows business leaders to obtain their degrees while maintaining their professional careers.
Taught by expert professors from both TUFE and TWU, the Great Wall MBA is open to students from all over the globe who want to expand their business expertise.
“It’s a great opportunity to live and study in China while taking a MBA program in English,” said MacTavish. “You can learn about China and enhance your Mandarin language skills while taking your MBA degree in a globally-diverse classroom.”
The partnership between the two universities plays to the strengths of both institutions, allowing them to bring elite educational programs to students.
“The Great Wall MBA is a perfect example of the innovation required to succeed in the global marketplace,” said Great Wall MBA Liaison Brent Reimer. “The program not only teaches international business, it demonstrates it: two top universities from two great nations are working together to deliver an MBA degree. And, as is often the case in good international business deals, everyone wins. The Tianjin business community has a new, unique opportunity to learn from experienced North American professors—and TWU is able to further establish its presence in China, one of Canada’s biggest trading partners.”