Shanghai property developer Shui On Land partners with Ross to establish Shui On Academy.

ANN ARBOR, Mich.—In November 2008, Shanghai property developer Shui On Land Limited partnered with the Ross School of Business to establish Shui On Academy. The alliance is designed to provide Shui On Land with innovative learning opportunities that drive individual and company performance while promoting academic development at Ross.

Shui On Land is the flagship property company of the Shui On Group in the Chinese Mainland with a proven track record in developing large-scale, mixed-use, city-core development projects and integrated residential development projects. Its management demonstrates a strong sense of social responsibility in nurturing local talent, and Shui On Land Chairman Vincent H.S. Lo characterizes the partnership with Ross as a milestone initiative. The academy will provide quality and systematic in-house training to staff members to ensure they gain the knowledge they need to achieve the company's goals, as well as to develop their individual skills and abilities.

Ross School Dean Robert Dolan describes the partnership as a natural one in light of Shui On Land's record of innovative and dynamic initiatives. The Ross School's educational philosophy of action-based learning is rooted in the conviction that the best learning occurs when the educational process is tied closely to the world of practice, he says. As a partner in Shui On Academy, we look forward to setting the standard for leadership development and to extending impactful learning opportunities into the communities of which Shui On is a part.

Louis Wong, managing director -- project management of Shui On Land, says the deal with Ross comes at a momentous time in the company's history. We are currently planning for significant growth, for our staff, for our projects, for our company, for fulfilling our commitment to community development, he says. We are glad to partner with the University of Michigan's world-renowned Ross School. The Ross School's expertise in leadership and entrepreneurship aligns with our own.

The partnership also capitalizes on the Ross School's expertise in executive education to offer various programs to Shui On Land's partners, customers, and the communities of which Shui On Land is a part.

Shui On Land is one of the most innovative and visionary property developers in China, says Melanie Barnett, chief executive of the Ross School's Executive Education Program. The Ross School's and Shui On Land's concerted efforts will combine our strengths and experiences to co-create the values for education and community building in China and the U.S.

Mutual Benefit
According to the agreement, the Ross School and Shui On Land will cooperate to further mutual development of their organizations, their employees, and their communities. The collaboration between Shui On Land and the Ross School will begin with learning opportunities such as in-house leadership and management courses, leadership curriculum development for the Shui On Academy, one-on-one partnering between Ross faculty members and the company's senior executives, and action-based learning projects. These kinds of joint projects will also enable faculty development opportunities, such as research and case development, for Ross faculty members, allowing them to understand economic development, management styles, and property market elements in the Chinese Mainland.

Leadership & Community Development
Both organizations will co-host large-scale public events focusing in two thematic areas: leadership and entrepreneurship. Activities will include conferences, forums, and other event sponsorships. A large-scale leadership conference titled Building, Sharing, Leading: Solutions for Tomorrow will be held in 2009 at which experts from the Ross School and leading companies will share their insights and practical tips about leadership and leadership development.

Nurturing Entrepreneurship
The Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC), a community project promoting technological innovation and entrepreneurship by Shui On Land, will hold its first annual KIC Entrepreneurship Challenge partnering with Ross and several well-known universities in the Chinese Mainland in March 2009. David Nieh, general manager for business development of Yangpu Projects, says this brand new initiative is for graduates and those young entrepreneurs pursuing opportunities to realize their dreams. Prizes will include the provision of office facilities at KIC, startup funding, systematic entrepreneurship training, and incubation services. It also will provide golden opportunities for the participants to network with academic experts and potential business partners and investors. KIC also has sponsored ?inners,? a reality TV show broadcast in the Chinese Mainland, to enable the shortlisted participants to realize their entrepreneurial dreams.

For further information about Shui On Land, please visit http://www.shuionland.com.

Michigan China