There are only about three thousand MBA graduates in China. And, as the market economy grows, the need for people with administrative skills is growing rapidly.

Yanshan University in the coastal city of Qinhuangdao in Hebei province is one of the 18 schools with MBA programs in China. Yanshan started its program with the US's Dowling College two years ago.

This was a memorable moment for these 30 graduates and their teachers. After eighteen months of study, the students, dressed in caps and gowns, were receiving their MBAs.

They are the first graduates of Yanshan's MBA program.

The graduates say they believe that what they have learned will be very good for their future careers.

Du Zhongfei(MBA Graduate)Said: "During the eighteen months of study, I think I came to fully understand what management really means to me. I have learned many practical management skills and methods which I believe will help me resolve problems in my daily work.".

The program has got the full support of the two schools and their presidents have expressed confidence in it.

Wang Yiqun, President (Yanshan University)Said: "Setting up a joint MBA program with foreign counterparts was quite an efficient way to introduced advanced management theory. Our students can get a deeper understanding of western business and management techniques and learn how to be a more effective and more efficient business leader."

With the growing awareness of management skills, more people have reached the conclusion that advanced technology is not the only thing that Chinese enterprises need to catch up.

Sun Yegang, director of the State Council's Academic Degree Office, agrees. He sees the benefits of cooperating with foreign universities in some of China's weaker disciplines like business administration. They can get a lot of help by introducing new teaching methods that conform to the global market.