Executive Training Programs For Tomorrow's Leadership

The State of Minnesota

River view

The State of Minnesota gets its name from the Dakota Native American tribe word minisota, meaning "sky-tinted waters." Minnesota is known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," but Minnesota actually has more than 14,000 lakes. In fact, Minnesota today has more shoreline than California, Florida, and Hawaii combined! In addition to those beautiful lakes, the world's third largest river, the Mississippi, begins its journey to the Gulf of Mexico from Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota.

Minnesota is known for its natural beauty, cultural attractions, recreational resources, and thriving business. Opportunity, expansion, growth, and a supportive business climate have become hallmarks of business throughout Minnesota.

For years, Minnesota's economy has grown at a faster rate than the U.S. Its annual average unemployment rate has been the lowest in the nation. A global perspective weaves throughout Minnesota's institutions of education, agriculture and commerce, and Minnesota's international partnerships span the globe. Minnesota is the 7th largest exporter of U.S. agricultural commodities, and Minnesota's top three manufactured export industries are industrial machinery, scientific instruments, and electronic equipment.

Minnesota has a long history of commercial and social exchange with China. This relationship dates back to 1883, when commercial ships started the exchange of Minnesota's food and fiber products for China's finished goods. In 1981, Minnesota and China's Shaanxi Province became sister states. Following that, in the mid-1980s, Minneapolis and St. Paul also set up sister city relationships with Harbin and Changsha respectively. In 1984, after China had opened its doors to outside investment, 3M Co., a well-known business headquartered in Minnesota, became the first foreign company to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary in China. In recent years, the trade between Minnesota and China has grown rapidly. Today, China is now Minnesota's third largest trading partner, following Canada and Japan, and has become the fastest growing market for Minnesota's exports.

Minnesota's economy is represented by a wide variety of prosperous businesses. In 2002, nineteen Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in Minnesota, representing a variety of industries, including but not limited to banking, health care, food processing and industrial products. Major international businesses located in the state include 3M, Medtronic, U.S. Bancorp, General Mills, the St. Paul-Travelers, Inc., Cargill, Target, and BestBuy.

Minnesota is also the home of the world's fourth largest airline, Northwest Airlines. Northwest offers convenient air service between Minnesota and all major cities in the U.S., Asia, and Europe. Northwest Airlines and Air China have established a code-sharing partnership, which provides training participants greater convenience when making flight arrangements.

Minnesota has been ranked the "Most Livable State" in the United States. With a population of 2.8 million, Minneapolis-St. Paul is the 16th largest metropolitan area in the country. The University's Twin Cities campus is located in the center of the thriving Twin Cities area, which provides training participants with easy access to many of Minnesota's businesses, entertainment spots, shopping, and restaurants. The nation's largest shopping center, the Mall of America, is only about a 30-minute drive from campus. Training participants will find many businesses and services conveniently located near campus.

Capitol

The University of Minnesota

U of M

Founded in 1851, the University of Minnesota, with its four campuses, is one of only a few comprehensive universities in the world and ranks among the most prestigious universities in the U.S. The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, joined Association of American Universities (AAU) in 1908. It is both a state land-grant university, with a strong tradition of education and public service, and a major research institution, with scholars of national and international reputation. The University has a $2 billion operating budget. With approximately 60,000 students, it is ranked as the third largest public university in the U.S. University of Minnesota alumni include six Nobel Prize winners, a former chief justice of the United States, two former vice presidents, and several heads of Fortune 500 companies. The University offers 370 degree programs, more than any other university in the United States. Its Twin Cities campus, the University's largest campus, is made up of 20 colleges and is able to grant bachelor degrees in 161 fields, master's degrees in 218 fields, and doctoral degrees in 114 fields.

The University of Minnesota values international exchanges, and its ties with China are well known throughout the University. The University annually is home to around 1,300 Chinese students and scholars, the largest Chinese student population at any university in North America. They account for 25 percent of the total international student population at the University - the largest group of international students on campus. Since the arrival of the first Chinese student in 1914, more than 8,000 Chinese students and scholars have studied and worked at the University.

University Quick Facts

  • In 2001 and 2002, the University of Minnesota was ranked as one of the top three public research universities in the U.S. by a think-tank at the University of Florida.
  • Many University of Minnesota programs rank among the top 10 in the nation, such as chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, psychology, economics, geography, management information system, pharmacy, public health, education.
  • The flight recorder (black box) was invented at the University of Minnesota.
  • The retractable seat belt was invented at the University of Minnesota.
  • The first heart pacemaker was invented at the University of Minnesota.
  • The heart-lung machine was invented and used in the world's first successful open-heart surgery at the University of Minnesota.
  • The University of Minnesota has the largest kidney transplant program in the world.
  • University of Minnesota scientists have bred and released more than 80 new crop varieties.
  • The University of Minnesota China Center was established in 1979. The University is one of a few non-Chinese universities that have an administrative office to manage Chinese student affairs.
  • The University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management has cooperated with Lingnan College, Zhongshan University in China to set up an EMBA program, which is the first joint Executive MBA program authorized by the Ministry of Education in China in 1999.
  • The University's Summer Chinese Program at Nankai University ran for 23 years.

Mingda Institute for Leadership Training

The China Center reflects the firm and long-standing commitment of the University of Minnesota to international research, teaching, and service. Since 1979, the China Center has had responsibility for the University of Minnesota's exchanges with mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. It is dedicated to facilitating all-University academic exchange, collaborative research, teaching, and training activities with Chinese institutions.

In 2001, Mingda Institute for Leadership Training was certified by the State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs of China to conduct Chinese overseas training programs. Since then, the Mingda Institute has successfully hosted a series of training programs which have been highly regarded by the Chinese government and the participants. All training and short-course arrangements will be coordinated by the China Center. The China Center will provide program administration and will facilitate any academic or cultural excursions for the group. The staff at the China Center will be available to the participants throughout the program to ensure that their experience at the University meets and exceeds their expectations. Upon conclusion of the training program, each participant will receive a University of Minnesota Certificate of Completion. Some past training programs are:

  • Zhejiang: E-Government Administration and Management for the Chief Staff of Zhejiang Provincial and Local Governments (September 2001)
  • USDA-China Project: Organic Agriculture and American Policy (December 2001)
  • UNDP-China Project: Seed Processing Industry Reform and Management (January 2002)
  • Zhejiang: Economy - Trade Policy and Management (January 2002)
  • Beijing: Advanced Public Administration and Business Leadership Training for Senior Government Executives (April – August 2002)
  • Jiangsu: Law System and Policy Training for Jiangsu Lawyers (June 2002)
  • Shaanxi: Higher Education Policy and Administration Training for University Presidents in Shaanxi (July – August 2002)
  • Chongqing: Advanced Human Resource Development and Personnel Management Training for Senior Government Executives (August 2003)
  • Guizhou: Public Health Administration Training for Presidents of Schools of Public Health in Guizhou (August – September 2002)
  • Chongqing: Advanced Public and Government Administration Training for Senior Government Administrators (November 2002)
  • UNDP-China Project: Assistance for Enhancing Agri-Processing within the WTO Framework (December 2002)
  • Shenzhen: Advanced Business Leadership Training Program for Senior Business Executives (December 2002)
  • Jiangxi: Agriculture and Food Processing Training for Sino-German Food Engineering Center (January 2003)
  • USDA-China Project: Water-Saving Agriculture - Policy and Development (March – May 2003)
  • Carlson School of Management (CSOM)
    www.csom.umn.edu
    The mission of the Carlson School of Management is to advance the practice of management in the context of a global economy with increasing technological and social change. Founded in 1919, the Carlson School has been consistently ranked as one of the best business schools in the nation. In 2002, its MBA program was ranked 24th in the country among the "Top 50 MBA Programs" in the United States. Also, its Management Information System and Heath Care Administration programs were ranked 3rd and 4th in the nation. The Carlson School has cooperated with Lingnan College, Zhongshan University in China to set up an Executive MBA program, which started in the fall of 2001. This EMBA program is the first joint EMBA program authorized by the Ministry of Education in China in 1999.
  • College of Liberal Arts (CLA)
    www.cla.umn.edu
    The College of Liberal Arts, at the center of a major research university and home to 500 faculty members in 30 departments, strives to provide an education that emphasizes both breadth and depth of learning in the fundamental disciplines of knowledge. Combining world-class excellence with first-rate value, most CLA programs at the University rank among the country's top 20, including economics, American studies, political science, psychology, speech-communication, and statistics. The Asian Languages and Literatures Department in CLA has run a Summer Chinese Program at Nankai University in Tianjin for 23 years.
  • Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
    www.hhh.umn.edu
    Named after Hubert H. Humphrey, the famous former U.S. vice president, the Institute of Public Affairs is the University of Minnesota's graduate professional school for students interested in public affairs and planning. It is ranked among the nation's top 20 public policy programs. In addition, the Institute acts as a highly reputed center for research on public policy issues.
  • Law School
    www.law.umn.edu
    The Law School, ranked 19th in the country, has earned its national reputation for accomplishments that are uniquely related to its history, its location, and its people. Its nationally and internationally renowned faculties have been ranked as some of the most productive scholars in legal education and research.
  • Institute of Technology (IT)
    www.it.umn.edu
    The Institute of Technology has nearly 400 faculty, 13 academic departments, and 24 research centers that encompass engineering, the physical sciences, and mathematics. It is not only one of the premier colleges of its kind in the nation, but also the cradle for many world famous scientific innovations, including the isolation of uranium 235 in a prototype mass spectrometer, the "Black Box" flight recorder, and the first heart pacemaker. IT's motto, "Inventing Tomorrow," has been embodied in its faculty, students, and alumni. Committed to excellence in all they undertake, IT faculty have made outstanding contributions to education, research, and technology transfer in science and engineering.
  • College of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences (COAFES)
    www.coafes.umn.edu
    The establishment of COAFES dates back to 1851, when the state legislature began an agricultural education program. COAFES is consistently regarded among the top five colleges of agriculture in the world. It has more than 400 faculty and scientists in 11 outstanding academic departments in various fields of applied sciences, including agronomy, animal science, applied economics, and food sciences and nutrition. Its alumni are recognized as global leaders in their fields. Famous Chinese alumni include Professor and Academician Tang Peisong, the founding father of plant physiology in China, and Professor and Academician Jin Shanbao, the former president of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences (AAS) in China.
  • College of Education and Human Development (CEHD)
    www.education.umn.edu
    U.S. News ranked CEHD 12th among all professional schools of education (April 2003) and 6th among all public professional schools. The college is globally diverse with almost 200 students from 60 different countries. As part of the University of Minnesota, CEHD offers its students and visiting international scholars all of the resources of a world-class research institution with ties to colleagues and sister institutions throughout the world. The faculty are nationally and internationally known for their expertise in such diverse areas as literacy, early childhood development, adult education and career change, issues relating to girls and women in sport, the influence of ergonomic design on human performance, successful measures of intervention and support for children, strategies for dealing with aggressive behavior in the classroom, and models to understand the effects of today's technology and its future impact on business and education.

Other Colleges at the University of Minnesota

For more information about the University of Minnesota, please visit http://www.umn.edu