Newswise — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY’S HAAS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS – UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business will provide an executive-level program that will present a Silicon Valley perspective on business, innovation, and leadership topics to top Chinese leaders. The program will be taught by Berkeley-Haas faculty starting May 6, 2014.

This Partnership for CELAP and Berkeley-Haas is a three-year pilot program between UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and the China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong (CELAP) in Shanghai, according to a memorandum of understanding signed by Berkeley-Haas Dean Rich Lyons and Professor Feng Jun, executive vice president of CELAP. CELAP is one of three preeminent Chinese government leadership academies and provides international, contemporary leadership development for China’s senior officials.

"We are creating a powerful educational partnership by bringing together the #1 public research university in the US with China's premier leadership academy for developing high-level public officials," said Rich Lyons, dean of Berkeley-Haas. "Our partnership is further strengthened by the culture we share, one that emphasizes innovative leadership and a commitment to long-term, positive impact on our societies."

Four times a year, a member of the Berkeley-Haas faculty will travel to Shanghai to teach an intensive, course focusing on current issues in business, innovation, and public policy.

As part of the first course Professor Andrew K. Rose, Haas Associate Dean for Faculty, will present on the impact of European and US monetary policy on the Chinese economy for Chinese ministers and district governors. Dean Rich Lyons is scheduled to present the next course on innovative leadership in September.

Haas board member Mr. Wu Hsioh Kwang, executive chairman and director of Straco Corporation Limited Singapore, was a key driver and architect of the partnership, conceptualizing the program and engaging CELAP senior management to help bring this partnership to fruition.

Professor Teck Ho, chair of the Haas Marketing Group and faculty director of the Haas School’s Asia Business Center, will coordinate the curriculum. The collaborative nature of the partnership means the sessions will be designed based on input from CELAP senior management and participants.

“The partnership is a win-win situation,” says Ho, “We are excited to have the opportunity to work with China’s leading academy for training the country’s senior government officials.”

The partnership will also help Berkeley-Haas explore future opportunities for providing internships, scholarships, international education programs, and study trek trips for its students to participate in CELAP programs.

Partnership for CELAP and Berkeley-Haas is made possible by Mr. Wu Hsioh Kwang and the Wu Hsioh Kwang Family Foundation.