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Northwood University expanding partnership with Asian university by educating Chinese students to manage the automotive industry

Published on 10/2/2009 5:38:23 PM
Three Chinese students have arrived on Northwood University's Texas Campus to study an industry they say they cannot in their homeland: automotive.

CEDAR HILL – Three Chinese students have arrived on Northwood University's Texas Campus to study an industry they say they cannot in their homeland: automotive.

Jiayi Sui, Yelin Zhao and Derek Li are seniors who previously attended Lambton College, a Canadian school that works in partnership with Jilin University in Changchun, China. Steve Brazill, assistant professor and chair of the Automotive Marketing Department, said this partnership has afforded about 30 students from China the opportunity to attend one of Northwood University's residential campuses in Texas, Michigan and Florida.

The Chinese students are studying Automotive Management and Marketing, and thrilled to experience all things America until they graduate in May. All are intent on moving back to China after graduation to work, though none know exactly how that will come to fruition. They travelled halfway around the world because of the quality educational experience Northwood offers, Li said.
"In China, we don't have this major," Li said. "This is a competitive advantage for us. We want to earn the best degree we can, and this is the best place for us."

Zhao and Sui also have enjoyed learning about the American lifestyle.

"It's a very fantastic experience for us to learn about this culture," Sui said. "We get to see how people have different points of view."

Professor Brazill has taught a combination of Automotive Marketing and Automotive Aftermarket curriculums at Jilin University/Lambton College about a dozen times since 2007, just a few miles north of North Korea.

"It's inherently unique that they come from the Peoples Republic of China -- and they're here to study car dealerships," Professor Brazill said. "I think that shows how the relationship between our countries has evolved in a short period of time. The Chinese people there are very friendly and very accepting of Americans who travel to their country. There's a strong sense of friendship."

Automotive Marketing on Northwood's Texas campus involves studying dealership advertising, finance and insurance, budgeting and forecasting, parts and service, as well as used car management. This allows Northwood's students the opportunity to develop an understanding of the entire automotive dealership business.

In 1963, the National Automobile Dealers Association selected Northwood University as the college to develop the only collegiate degree program in Automotive Marketing. In active cooperation with automobile firms, Northwood continues to prepare students for interesting and challenging careers in all aspects of automobile distribution, sales and service.

Changchun was the site of China's first vehicle assembly plant - it began building trucks in 1956 - and Changchun is known today as the Detroit of China. There are about 80 students from across China enrolled in the program.

"All courses (in China) are taught in English, so they will be prepared to work in the automotive industry and to do it globally," Professor Brazill said. "We have a lot of students in China who are learning about the automotive industry through us. China has just become the largest car market in the world, surpassing America."

About Northwood University
Northwood University is committed to the most personal attention to prepare students for success in their careers and in their communities; it promotes critical thinking skills and personal effectiveness, and the importance of ethics, individual freedom and responsibility.

Private, nonprofit and accredited, Northwood University specializes in managerial and entrepreneurial education at three full-service, residential campuses located in Southern Florida, mid-Michigan and Northern Texas. Adult Degree Programs are available in eight states with many course delivery options including online. The DeVos Graduate School offers full-time, evening and industry specific master's degree programs for entrepreneurs and executives in Michigan, Texas and Switzerland. The Alden B. Dow Creativity Center on the Midland, Michigan, campus specializes in creative thinking and innovation development. International education is offered through terms abroad and in Program Centers in Switzerland, China, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bahrain. Northwood University also operates the Margaret Chase Smith Library in Maine.

50 Years of Enterprise and Ethics
Northwood University is marking its 50-year anniversary. Founded in 1959, Northwood has grown to a national and international presence and is an influential advocate for free enterprise. Celebrations are planned across the country and around the world to commemorate the vision and success of Northwood University's founders, Drs. R. Gary Stauffer and Arthur Turner.