Some SIUC teachers are trying to make the grade in Hong Kong.

Teachers from the College of Business and Administration are instructing business executives in China through an overseas program that offers an executive master’s in business administration from SIUC, University officials say.

Iqbal Mathur, former dean of the College of Business, said the difference between an executive MBA and a regular MBA program is that an executive MBA requires students to have at least 10 to 15 years work experience before admittance.

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Mathur said the students fit into an older age bracket and are established in their career field. He said students applying for the program are already either mid-level or senior position presidents.

Managers in Hong Kong businesses have permanent jobs and can’t take one year out of their life to come here for a MBA, he said. We are profiting from the program by sending our teachers abroad, giving them valuable experience, and at the same time receiving alumni.

John Fraedrich, a SIUC marketing professor who taught in Hong Kong last March, said the students are aggressive and provide interesting job-related discussions to the classes.

There is a lot of pressure, he said. These people already know the basis of international business. I know for myself that I had to really study harder to know all the small, significant details.

Fraedrich said a number of professors research issues for Japanese, Hong Kong, and other emerging foreign markets. He said any teacher should take advantage of the opportunity to teach overseas.

We are a moving more and more to a global economy, he said. We need to expand our knowledge.

The College of Business and Administration began the program last November because of the high demand in Hong Kong for Western MBA programs, Dean Thomas Keon said.

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‘ Most of the competitive MBA programs over there are from Canada or Australia, he said. They don’t have the prominence of the business schools of the West.

Keon said the program allows faculty members to spend time in another country and bring information back to SIUC that can enrich their classes.

Marvin Troutt, a SIUC management professor, said his experience in Hong Kong has helped him in dealing with students. He said before he went to Hong Kong, he was not familiar with the British form of English some of his students were using for assignments.

Since Hong Kong is a British colony, the use of British style English is more wide-spread than American standard English, Troutt said.

I used to think my students were just writing incorrectly, he said. Now I know there are two distinct styles. I got an education in my own language.

Troutt said he did not see much of a difference between SIUC students and his Hong Kong students except that his students from Hong Kong had to adjust to his accent.

Troutt said he did have to adjust to the fast-paced lifestyle in Hong Kong.

I think being in a big city versus a country environment was more of a culture shock for me, he said. They have strong universities and plenty of research opportunities, but I think we have a slight advantage here with a scenic atmosphere.

Troutt said the success of the program is because of SIUC’s strong international reputation. He said his students seemed impressed with the faculty and program.

Mathur, who was active dean when the program was initiated, said he will be going to teach in Hong Kong in January.

I’m excited, he said. Everything I’ve heard has said the students are eager and willing to participate. It’s one of those things when I’m excited to teach and see the effects of the program.

Keon said the students are recruited through a management consulting firm. He said even though the students are established business executives, they have to go through the same application process as any student applying for graduate school.

Feedback from the students has been positive, and some even want to attend the SIUC graduation on campus, Keon said.