Partnership opportunities for education, entrepreneurship, innovation discussed

Six delegates from Changsha, China recently visited the University of Missouri-Kansas City Bloch School of Management Executive Education Program to discuss increasing partnerships in education, entrepreneurship and innovation.

As part of the visit, Kansas City, Missouri officials signed a letter of intent on Jan. 26 to work with Changsha on long-term business and education efforts. Bloch Executive Education also invited the Changsha delegation to discuss building potential cooperative programs and arranged for the delegates to meet with key officials at the university and Enactus students.

UMKC and Changsha already work together. Bloch Executive Education has been building relationships with International organizations throughout Asia since 2010. UMKC has an Enactus chapter, an international organization that connects students, academic and business leaders through entrepreneurial-based projects. It’s designed to empower people to transform opportunities into real, sustainable progress for themselves and their communities. UMKC Enactus is a strategic initiative of the Bloch School. In 2014, UMKC Enactus students went on their fifth annual trip to Changsha, the capital and largest city of Hunan Province in south-central China.

Kansas City Councilman Scott Wagner went with the group in 2014. After the trip, UMKC students made presentations on “American Business Practices and Doing Business in Kansas City” to five universities in Changsha, Xi’an and Beijing, as well as to the Changsha Federation of Industry & Commerce (similar to a chamber of commerce). The most resent relationship with Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office in Changsha and UMKC came after the visit with Enactus students and Councilman Scott Wagner.

Goals after the trip were to continue to market Kansas City to present and future Chinese business leaders and to market UMKC to prospective Chinese students. The recent meeting with Kansas City, Missouri and UMKC is a step to making long-term partnership commitments.

“If you’re looking for a strong partner, you’ve come to the right place,” said UMKC Chancellor Leo E. Morton. He said there are a number of opportunities for enhancing study, teaching and friendship.

David Donnelly, dean of the Bloch School, told delegates about the University’s dedication to encouraging an “innovative mindset” and entrepreneurship mentality with students across disciplines.

“Entrepreneurship permeates all University programs. Graduates can’t compete in the future without values and an innovation mindset,” Donnelly said.

In addition to sending UMKC students to China, UMKC has more than 100 Chinese students studying at the Bloch School. During the meeting with Changsha delegates, Administrators from the Block School shared specific programs that benefit all students.

Cary Clark, Sam Walton Fellow at the Bloch School, introduced the Changsha delegation to a group of UMKC students from a variety of disciplines, which included pharmacy, education, marketing, political science and entrepreneurship.

“We are deeply impressed by the innovative teaching methods,” said Yingzi Rui, deputy director of Changsha Municipal People’s Congress.

“The quality of students we produce is the highest in the area,” Clark said. “We graduate students with the brightest future and greatest potential.”