Students attend the first PHBS International Cultural Day. CHINA DAILY

Higher education in today's globalized world has become highly competitive. Over the past decade, China has established itself as an economic powerhouse and a rising force in higher education.

While Beijing has long been recognized as the hub of higher education, a growing number of universities across other regions are rising in the rankings. Take southern China, for example, where options for top-quality education are emerging.

As one of the country's flagship universities, Peking University has gained much momentum in the last five years, as has its newest business school, Peking University HSBC Business School. Located in Shenzhen, PHBS was founded in 2004 with the vision to build on Peking University's inspirational traditions and develop a center of international excellence in business education.

"Right now, joining PHBS must be one of the coolest things that students can do if they are interested in China," said André Georgi from Germany. Now working at Boston Consulting Group, one of the Big Three strategy consulting firms, Georgi earned his master's degree in management.

His insights echo the sentiments of many students who frequently cite opportunities in China, seeking to leverage their experience here to excel in today's business world. "PHBS has multiple unique traits which make it different from other schools, including culture, location, professors, and networking opportunities. That's why we all love it!" said Anton Ergahsev, a management student from Tajikistan.

PHBS graduates are from different countries. CHINA DAILY

Global presence

According to the QS Business Master's Rankings 2023, the Master in Finance and Master in Management programs at PHBS were ranked in the global top 20 for their respective subject areas.

These rankings evaluate over 600 programs from more than 40 countries to identify the best graduate master's programs worldwide.

PHBS has received multiple accreditations since 2011, further proving the quality of its education. The school was accredited by AACSB in 2018 and AMBA in 2019, the two largest and most influential business school accreditation organizations, after having previously received EPAS accreditation from the European Foundation for Management Development in 2011 for its Master in Economics program.

During Peking University's 120th anniversary year in 2018, PHBS opened its campus in Boars Hill, Oxfordshire, England, offering students the chance to engage in cross-border study. The program enables students to spend one year studying in the United Kingdom and another year at PHBS Shenzhen, providing them with international values and experiences. The program is a significant plus for business practitioners and international students who want to explore global market niches whilst utilizing entrepreneurship in China. Moreover, PHBS students benefit from an extensive alumni network spanning over 70 locations worldwide, fostering valuable connections and friendships.

Students attend an academic seminar. CHINA DAILY

Talent powerhouse

Powered by exceptional faculty from the world's leading universities, PHBS now offers over 130 graduate-level courses each year tailored to provide domestic and overseas students with immersive Chinese educational experiences and a global outlook. Georgi said: "This really helped me develop a much broader understanding of the world, combining my Western and Chinese views."

As technology shapes the business landscape, universities worldwide have begun to incorporate fintech into their curricula, and PHBS has followed suit. "It's a natural step," said PHBS associate professor Jaehyuk Choi.

Choi made a career shift in 2016, leaving his "quant" job at Goldman Sachs to join PHBS teaching blockchain and machine learning in the fintech program. He also believes that "since PHBS is located in Shenzhen, we can prepare students to know more about tech firms and develop must-have skills related to AI and ML.Leveraging its location, I think PHBS and Shenzhen will grow together in a similar way as Stanford University and Silicon Valley have."

With such momentum, PHBS is like a magnet attracting global talent. It now has more than 80 exceptional professors, all leaders in their respective fields with close ties to business. Notably, Nobel Laureate in Economics Thomas Sargent joined in 2017 to set up the Sargent Institute of Quantitative Economics and Finance. Possessing learning and research experience from the world's leading universities, PHBS faculty have the ability to guide research-led student-centered learning and engage in high-impact research.

Consequently, PHBS's reputation in terms of talent cultivation and employability has grown exponentially. Its graduates continue to stand out in the fiercely job market, with their employment rate bucking the trend of the past three years.

PHBS Building. CHINA DAILY

Diverse opportunities

Turkish entrepreneur Erdi Tac found that the most important lessons he learned at PHBS were not only in the classroom, but also through diverse opportunities such as company visits that deepen students' understanding of real-world business practice.

PHBS is taking advantage of Shenzhen's reputation as a hub for China's entrepreneurial companies by regularly inviting entrepreneurs and business leaders from well-known Shenzhen-based companies, such as Huawei and Tencent, to share their insights with students. In the era of unprecedented change, PHBS also holds high-level forums featuring renowned experts and scholars to analyze domestic and global economic trends, new challenges and new opportunities.

David Hall, one of the first international students to graduate from the MBA program, returned to Shenzhen because of the abundant opportunities it offers, saying: "Technology in China is unbelievable and being in Shenzhen allowed me to see it firsthand." Before joining PHBS, he had worked for three years at a top investment bank. For Rosalyn Jeon, a Cornell and PHBS graduate from South Korea, found that the school helped her gain much-needed insights and awareness into the dynamics of China's economy.

PHBS' entrepreneurial vision continues with the establishment of the Qianhai Institute of China-Britain, which brings together top resources from the world's leading universities to promote international exchanges and cooperation.

By leveraging advantages of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the institute aims to become a cutting-edge academic research platform with global impact, an incubator for innovation and entrepreneurship, and a high-level think tank for policymakers and practitioners.

With such diverse resources and entrepreneurial roadmap, PHBS is ready to empower its students to excel inside and outside the classroom, equipping them with the capabilities as well as connections to succeed in global business and become future leaders. Relying on the dynamic and pioneering spirit of a thriving city, the school presents an exceptional opportunity to benefit from both modern Asian cultural immersion and internationalization.