Nyenrode: Institute aims to bridge two worlds

With business in China booming, it’s only natural that the country is linked to one of the world’s top business schools. The Europe China Institute, or ECI, part of Nyenrode University in the Netherlands, has developed leading business talents such as Neelie Kroes, European Union Commissioner for Competition; Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the International Olympics Commission’s coordinating commission for the Beijing Olympics and Robert Polet, chairman and CEO of Gucci. “ECI is a place where science and day-to-day practice meet each other, a place of engagement, knowledge, mutual understanding and advantage,” says Annette Nijs, managing director of the Europe China Institute of Nyenrode University. A former member of the Dutch Parliament and Dutch Cabinet Minister for Education, Culture and Science, she continues: “The combination of a high quality Chinese network with the four activities of the institute (education, research, consultancy and opinion leadership) makes it very unique.” As a founder of China Europe International Business School, Nyenrode has had a long interest in China. Now it aims to be the leading source of knowledge on the development, opportunities and challenges in the economic and political relationship between Europe and China. “Our education and research programs provide future European and Chinese managers and entrepreneurs with a deeper understanding of the business environment, including general management competencies to successfully operate at “the other end of the world.” [Jenny Hammond]//Nyenrode Business Universiteit