Zhang Zhenning is the 2015 MBA alumnus of Antai College of Economics & Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Antai College: A teaching model that benefits students in life

"The study of MBA has enabled me to systematically sort out and improve my hazy and scattered knowledge in various courses."

Antai College's International MBA program covers a series of management courses such as corporate strategy, marketing, operations, accounting, macroeconomics and microeconomics, project management, and organizational behavior. In addition, courses in data modeling and information systems have also been added.

The International MBA course schedule is very compact, and the in-depth study of one course is completed every 2 to 3 weeks, so Antai College hires top professors and experts from all over the world to teach students. The professors have many years of academic attainments and teaching experience in various teaching fields, enabling students to understand the core ideas and main methods of the corresponding management field in a relatively short period.

According to Zhang Zhenning's recollection, "Even after the course is over, the teacher will keep in touch with everyone through LinkedIn and email, answering questions and doubts for the practical problems encountered by the students, and thus becoming a good teacher and friend who will benefit the students for life."

The Antai College International MBA program is taught in English, and English also covers questions in class, homework, and exam. Because Zhang Zhenning used English less frequently when working in state-owned enterprises, it wasn't easy to read English textbooks and communicate with teachers and classmates in English at the beginning of the course. However, his English gradually improved with the advancement and accumulation of learning.

In addition, Antai College, as the first business school in China to obtain the three top international accreditations of AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA, attracts exchange students and international students from outstanding business schools around the world. Completing group discussions and project presentations with students from all over the world have also improved Zhang Zhenning's speaking ability.

After one semester of the International MBA program, Zhang Zhenning's GMAT score improved significantly, fully meeting the requirements of MIT.

Antai College and MIT: Top-notch university learning experience

Antai College MBA and MIT Sloan School of Management MSMS established a partnership in 2011, aiming to provide business school students with a partnership with MIT the opportunity to conduct in-depth research in a specific field of management, and to award a master's degree to qualified graduates.

On the other hand, earlier in 2006, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and MIT jointly launched the "CLGO-China Leaders for Global Operations" project, focusing on providing students with training such as practice and teamwork. Many world-renowned companies in manufacturing and operations, such as Amazon, Apple, Cisco, Dell, Esquel Hong Kong, Honeywell, Nike, Novartis, TISCO, and United Technologies, are corporate partners in the project.

In 2014, the three students who applied for the MSMS program of Antai College MBA were all qualified for an interview. In the end, Zhang Zhenning became one of the two students who received the admission letter.

MIT Sloan's MSMS program allows students to choose from the Sloan School of Business, courses in all other MIT departments, and even Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School of Government programs based on their areas of interest. In addition, outstanding students from all over the world learn and work with each other, which not only promotes the progress of knowledge but also fully reflects the important influence of cultural differences in overseas business cooperation.

Based on his previous work background in media technology, Zhang Zhenning chose information economics, digital marketing, data mining, product development, competitive strategy, MIT Media Lab innovation and entrepreneurship courses, and attended the media and policy courses of Harvard Kennedy School.

Throughout the learning process, teachers include senior academics and industry company executives. Most of the reading materials in class are papers published by teachers in top international academic journals or actual business cases of enterprises, and the courses are particularly lively and interesting. But, it will inevitably increase the pressure on the course, and the amount of reading and homework is far higher than that of domestic business schools.

However, the warm-up of Antai College's teaching has already made Zhang Zhenning well prepared to deal with academic challenges. Zhang Zhenning thanked Antai College for its great help in pursuing his dreams. In his heart, it is an honor to communicate and discuss with the elites on behalf of Antai College, and it also motivates him to move forward bravely in the next intellectual journey.

When he learned that the Antai College MBA program cooperated closely with the Sloan School of Management of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he applied for a dual-degree program to broaden his horizons and improve his leadership and management capabilities.

In early April 2014, Zhang Zhenning became one of the two ACEM MBA students admitted to the MIT Sloan School of Management for the Master of Management. Now, let's take a look at his learning experience and how Antai College helped him.