Chinese Undergraduate Experience

Presented to

Dwight Handspike

Prepared by

Bei Z., Meng Z., Ni J., Yu S., Zhang J., Zhang W., Zhang X.

Mar. 19th, 2013

• Research Background

• Key Findings

Chinese business undergraduates’ lifestyle

Chinese business undergraduates’ common needs

• Suggestions

Content

Research Background

Background

653 In 2007

3374In 2011

The Eli Broad College of Business ranks among the top 50 business schools in US.

With increasing enrollments of international students, Chinese undergraduates comprise the largest proportion.

Their opinions are critical to the business school decision makers.

Objectives

Understand Lifestyle

• To better understand the lifestyle of Chinese business undergraduates

Probe Needs

• Probe the needs of Chinese business undergraduates

Enhance ioCommunity

• Retrieve questionnaire options for ioCommunity from the feedback of focus groups

Respondents Criteria

Focus Group Discussion• Respondents:

Chinese business undergraduate students

• Criteria:

Currently enrolled at MSU

From mainland China

Current / prospective B-School undergrads

From freshmen to senior

5 majors at Broad Business College

Methodology-Focus Groups

In-depth interviews are also conducted to get the better understanding of the students.

Chinese Students’ lifestyle

Chinese students encountered culture shock and are struggling to be more proactive.

V.S

In China, school plans most things In US, students control their lives

Overview Freshmen's and sophomores’ lifestyle

Feel confused and lost in the sea of enormous information

I have never selected any class before, so how could I

know which class to choose?

When I first got here, I feel lost and don’t know where to get information, I need a

mentor.

• Not busy with school courses• Spend a lot of time on business core classes• No pressure in getting good grade

• Hang out with Chinese friends on weekends regularly• After classes, they surf on internet at home • Check on Chinese social networks regularly • Even though they don’t like the food at cafeteria, they have no

choice

• Freshmen are highly interested in finding part time jobs,

especially in cafeteria. • Some Sophomores are already working in cafeteria.

Academic

Non-Academic

Career

Freshmen’s and sophomores’ lifestyle in 3 parts

communication

Academic

Non-Academic

Career

Overview Juniors’ and seniors’ lifestyle

Juniors and seniors know how to "survive" in their coursework. In order to be admitted by dream school, they're working hard to get good grades.

They have already established social circles which are mainly consist of Chinese students.

They're looking forward to internship opportunities in U.S..

• Study hard to obtain a good GPA

• Strive to get a high GMAT or GRE score

• Usually eat at dining hall and sometimes go to Chinese restaurant

• Some choose to live off-campus with Chinese friends

• Seldom communicate with native students or native residents

• Most of them choose to go back to China.

• Some of them want to work in U.S

Academic

Non-Academic

Career

Juniors’ and seniors’ lifestyle in 3 parts

Chinese Students’ Needs

Academic Needs-Providing more accurate and useful information

Major selection: more information

“I want to know which major suites me the best.”“When should I apply for

the interested major?”

Major selection: more information

“I want to know which major suites me the best.”“When should I apply for

the interested major?”

Orientation: effective Communication

“I need a smaller group with 7-8 students, a leader who can speak Chinese,

and a student guide printed in Chinese.”

Orientation: effective Communication

“I need a smaller group with 7-8 students, a leader who can speak Chinese,

and a student guide printed in Chinese.”

Course: more attention from Prof. and

communication with classmates

“I don’t know why it’s so hard for me to find

American partners for my project.”

Course: more attention from Prof. and

communication with classmates

“I don’t know why it’s so hard for me to find

American partners for my project.”

Advisor: accurate and professional

“I got different answers from different advisors for the

same question.”“I want some personalized

advices”

Advisor: accurate and professional

“I got different answers from different advisors for the

same question.”“I want some personalized

advices”

Facilities: more intro.“I have never heard about

writing center.”“How can I know how many credits I still need to get my

bachelor’s degree from ‘stuinfo’ ”

Facilities: more intro.“I have never heard about

writing center.”“How can I know how many credits I still need to get my

bachelor’s degree from ‘stuinfo’ ”

Housing that don’t have to move out during

breaks.“I hate moving out in winter

and summer breaks”

Housing that don’t have to move out during

breaks.“I hate moving out in winter

and summer breaks”

Organization that provide more networking

Opportunities. “meet American friends in

organizations”

Organization that provide more networking

Opportunities. “meet American friends in

organizations”

Meal plan that similar as Owen Hall’s.

“Meal plan is robbing me blind, it’s ridiculous.”

Meal plan that similar as Owen Hall’s.

“Meal plan is robbing me blind, it’s ridiculous.”

Organizations that warmly welcome Chinese

student.“set up leadership position for international students ”

Organizations that warmly welcome Chinese

student.“set up leadership position for international students ”

Organizations that are good resume builder.

“I wish organizations can help me in job hunting”

Organizations that are good resume builder.

“I wish organizations can help me in job hunting”

Housing that offer more personal space.

“My roommate always brings back guys”

Housing that offer more personal space.

“My roommate always brings back guys”

Non-academic Needs-Providing a more social and comfortable living environment

Job-hunting Training“I want to learn how to find a job and do an interview professionally, but I don’t

know whether B-school can provide this kind of

service.”

Job-hunting Training“I want to learn how to find a job and do an interview professionally, but I don’t

know whether B-school can provide this kind of

service.”

Better Career Service“I want a list of companies that are willing to provide

sponsorship to me.”

Better Career Service“I want a list of companies that are willing to provide

sponsorship to me.”

Gain Experiences in U.S.“I just want to have one

year working experience in U.S. and then go back to China, but it’s hard to find

companies which hire international students for

short-time internship.”

Gain Experiences in U.S.“I just want to have one

year working experience in U.S. and then go back to China, but it’s hard to find

companies which hire international students for

short-time internship.”

On-campus Job Opportunities

“There are lots of on-campus positions for me to

choose and gain experiences.”

On-campus Job Opportunities

“There are lots of on-campus positions for me to

choose and gain experiences.”

Entrepreneur Career Advising

“I want to get professional advice for my entrepreneur

career development.”

Entrepreneur Career Advising

“I want to get professional advice for my entrepreneur

career development.”

Career Needs-Including career information session and job opportunities in USA

Suggestions

• Reduce the numbers of students in each group (7-10 students) • Ensure group leaders are well trained. • Distribute new student guides/handout which focuses on Business

School course selection and major introduction. ( students guide written in Chinese are strongly recommended)

Orientation

• Provide accurate and uniform answers to eliminate any possible confusion among students, especially for major admission requirement

• Recruit new advisors who are familiar with Chinese education system (class selection)

Advising

Resources/ facilities

Suggestions—Academic

• Make all the resources and facilities information available online

• Offer seminars to Chinese students about business-related SO. Topics, such as how to choose the right SO and how to be a proactive member in SO, are recommended

• Encourage Chinese business students to establish SO to help them develop leadership and gain social networking experiences

Student Organizations

(SO)

• Cooperate with OISS to encourage Chinese students to participate international friendship programs(e.g. CVIP)

• Establish Chinese culture week at Broad to help American students have a better understanding about Chinese classmates and their culture

Communication

• Give the Chinese students' feedbacks to housing and dining service departmentHousing/Dining

Suggestions—Non-Academic

• Provide detailed information of the application process online.• Enhance the communication between the students and the school

offices by explaining the application forms and required documents more clearly

Part time jobs

• Provide a list of companies which offer sponsorships prior to the career fair. We recommend to mark it on MySpartan Career or email Chinese students directly

• Host career development forums specifically for Chinese students to help them prepare for the job hunting

Internships/full time jobs

• Launch an entrepreneur class for undergraduates so that Chinese business school students could learn the basic skills

• Cooperate with legal offices to have law students voluntarily help Chinese potential entrepreneurs to understand the legal terms of starting business in US

Entrepreneurs

Suggestions—Career

• available resources (writing center, library)Academic

• Information about student organizations or local activities; insurance benefits(i.e. immunization)Non-Academic

• career planning; Lear career services; job information (where to obtain needed information) Career

New student handbook for Chinese students: Gather scattered information that tailors to the needs of Chinese students

Suggestions—Students Handbook

Conclusion

• Chinese students have different needs and wants

• Develop the ioCommunity survey questions based on the findings of the focus group and assess the feasibility of our suggestions

Understand Life styles

1

3

2• Provide tailored services for Chinese Students in

order to increase the quality of Service from Business School

Thank you