CFOs from China’s largest corporations receive specialized training at KSU

The Division of Continuing Education’s Center for International Training welcomed chief financial officers from a number of China’s largest corporations to Kennesaw State University in early November for 10 days of specialized training focused on the principles of financial management.

Georgia (Nov 11, 2002) — The Division of Continuing Education’s Center for International Training welcomed chief financial officers from a number of China’s largest corporations to Kennesaw State University in early November for 10 days of specialized training focused on the principles of financial management.



A total of 19 Chinese CFOs arrived Nov. 6 to begin their training‚ which is being provided by professors from the Michael J. Coles College of Business‚ as well as continuing education faculty and speakers from major Atlanta−based corporations. The participants were selected by their individual employers to serve as representatives of the top 180 corporations in China. These companies are the equivalent of Fortune 500 corporations in the United States.



"The Center for International Training in Continuing Education began in 1992 and helps build international connections for program development at KSU and the business communities in Georgia‚" said Ken Jin‚ center director. "This financial management training program is an extension of international education programs on campus and serves the growing learning needs of Chinese government officials and business executives."



Jin has managed the Center for International Training in Continuing Education since 1993. In that time‚ the center has serviced the needs of more than 1‚400 business executives and senior government officials representing China‚ Afghanistan‚ Taiwan and countries in Eastern Europe. The quality of its programs was highlighted in 2000 when Kennesaw State was designated as an official training base by the Chinese government‚ one of only a handful of universities to hold that distinction in the United States.



"We put a lot of time and effort into customizing training programs based on the requests of the participants‚" Jin said. "We are able to satisfy a wide variety of learning needs for our customers. Many of our programs are repeat business and generated by word−of−mouth."



Unlike past training programs conducted by KSU‚ this one reaches out to executives representing a wide variety of Chinese corporations‚ rather than 20 or more employees from one individual company.



"The program was referred to us through a previous program organizer at China Packaging Corp.‚" Jin explained. "The program organizer was very pleased with the quality of our training when the company trained with us in 2000. As part of China’s state−owned Enterprises Supervision Committee‚ the organizer highly recommended KSU as the training provider for these 180 companies."



The areas of concentration for the pilot program are financial reporting‚ financial structures‚ mergers and acquisitions‚ and financial markets in the U.S. In addition to their on−campus training‚ participants are visiting Atlanta area businesses such as Ford Motor Co.‚ Coca−Cola‚ Popeye’s Chicken and UPS‚ and speaking with financial representatives at each.



"The classes and field trips help the delegates understand American business practices and considerations in investment decision making‚" Jin said. "The training benefits the CFOs with their operations in China."



Although this particular session will be completed Nov. 17‚ another group of CFOs is scheduled to arrive on campus in early 2003. Additionally‚ a training program aimed at chief information officers is slated to begin Nov. 29.



"Our quality programs have made continuing education at KSU stand out among other training programs‚" Jin said. "This is why we are recognized by the Chinese government as the best in the U.S. Each of our programs helps strengthen our international ties."

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its nearly 43,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.