Combining East and West: Groundbreaking Business School Launches in China for Students from Across the Globe

SUZHOU, China, October 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

The first university in China to be recognised by the Chinese Ministry of Education with the right to award all degrees as dual UK and Chinese qualifications is celebrating the international launch of its new business school today in Suzhou, near Shanghai.

International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) will also be the first business school in China to boast a Thomson Reuters Financial Lab on site, offering students practice in real-time dealing in equities, bonds and other financial products while providing a powerful tool for research and analytics.

IBSS is part of Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, an autonomous higher education institution set up in 2006 by Liverpool University in the UK and Xi'an Jiaotong University in China. Its launch coincides with 280 million RMB (£28.6 million) of investment to construct two new buildings for IBSS on the university's South Campus.

All IBSS programmes are taught in English and offer a Western approach based on a non-didactic teaching style and independent thinking. At the same time, IBSS offers students a high degree of engagement and interaction with Chinese business, as reflected in its motto: "Combining East and West: Creating a Better World". Through its on-campus language centre, students are encouraged to build skills in Mandarin or other non-native languages.

At IBSS's  international launch event on 25 October 2013, senior executives from leading global companies such as HSBC, Coca Cola, Standard Chartered Bank and BP joined public officials and Chinese business leaders for a day-long event on "Innovation - China's next challenge".

Professor Sarah Dixon, Dean of IBSS, says: "China is on the cusp of change, moving from the position of manufacturing hub of the world to one of growing innovation. As such, China is vitally important to the world economy. Our students experience this transition in real time, gaining a UK/Chinese degree from both XJTLU and the University of Liverpool."

IBSS offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in business and finance, including an International MBA for Managers launching in early 2014. IBSS is based on the strong principles of internationalism, innovation, inspiration and integrity, which together ensure that the business school has a positive impact on society.

For more information on IBSS and its programmes, go to http://academic.xjtlu.edu.cn/ibss/SitePages/HomePage.aspx