CHINA: INTERIM 2006

Dr. Chad Hilton and Dr. Luoheng Han (Professor of Geography) collaborated to lead eleven UA students to the Peoples’ Republic of China.  The students represented both the College of Commerce and Business Administration and Arts and Sciences and undergraduate as well as graduate programs.  The idea of the course was to introduce our students to, arguably, their most important economic competitor in the near future – to see both new China and old China.   While the classroom portion of this class was important, the most significant parts of the course were likely the site visits and exposure to the Chinese culture and people.   Our time in Shanghai and visit to the Haier Co. in Qingdao provided a good view of the new China.   Haier is a leading Chinese manufacturer of products ranging from consumer appliances to plasma screen televisions and is one of China’s most important companies because it concentrates not only on manufacturing but also on Chinese product brand development, advanced technology, and creativity.  In addition to the plant visits, we also visited rural China, farm villages – reformed farm villages, and the homes of regular Chinese people as well as significant cultural sites such as Qufu – the birthplace of Confucius, Tai An – the seat of Buddhism in China and, of course, the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square in Beijing.