Geely--Chicom Private U "Lifeblood"

[Martin Eisenstadt]

Remember how the Japanese used to build crap cars, then started beating us at our own game?  Could it be deja vu all over again, only this time China?  As the commies begin to wake up and embrace free enterprise they also see how private universities have advantages over unresponsive government-controlled monoliths.

A Look Under The Hood
Li Shufu's Geely University is the lifeblood for his rising Chinese car company, Geely Automobile.
Joann Muller, 07.29.10, 06:00 PM EDT

Geely University, on the northern outskirts of Beijing, was born of necessity. In a country where state-controlled enterprises enjoy distinct advantages, Geely Automobile founder Li Shufu found it difficult to attract qualified workers to his private startup car company in Zhejiang province. "People looked down on us. People wouldn't work for us," he said. So the iconoclastic Li decided to cultivate his own talent. He set up Geely University in 2000 with a mission to train people in the practical skills needed to build Geely Automotive into the global powerhouse he envisioned.

Ridiculed at first, today it is China's largest private university, with 30,000 students in 20 colleges, including the arts, business, biotechnology and media. The automotive college is nearest to Li's heart, offering hands-on courses in engineering, manufacturing, finance and design. There's even a course to teach aspiring models how to strut and pose with cars at auto shows.

Geely has made headlines by winning Chinese government approval to acquire Volvo Cars from Ford Motor, but Li, a farmer's son with a master's degree in engineering from Yanshan University, is passionate about developing China's own auto industry and believes academia should refocus from theory to technology and practical application. At Geely University he has put $500 million toward that goal.

Li Shufu
Li Shufu, 47, whose $1.8 billion estimated fortune puts him 556th on Forbes' list of the world's richest people, is chairman of Geely University.


Campus Landmark
The focal point is a huge white marble library that strikingly resembles the U.S. Capitol.


Model Behavior
Skills for catching shoppers' attention at auto shows are taught by 23-year-old coach and former model Guo Man (right).


Opportunity
Students are offered internships at Geely Auto, and the best are hired after graduation.

[Armando Ramos]

Interesting how although Geely is said to have "20 colleges, including the arts, business, biotechnology and media....offering hands-on courses in engineering, manufacturing, finance and design," but the photos accompanying the article focus on girls modeling and guys doing what appears to be donkey work.  The not-so-subtle implication seems to be that this is a glorified trade school and not a "real" university.  

Admittedly, pretty girls in short dresses always make for an interesting story, but emphasizing what no doubt is just a very small part of a huge (30,000 students) and diverse academic operation seems to be providing a skewed view of the situation.  

Why does Forbes apparently feel compelled to give short shrift to Geely?  This looks like a fine example of free enterprise and individual initiative at work.  When you can't find the skilled workers you need, invest in your business and in your nation and create your own.  What could be more...American?

Perhaps they don't want to draw attention to the fact that it's happening in a nominally "communist" country, and not happening anywhere here in the nominally "Land of the Free." I don't expect Obama Motors will be rolling out Obama University any time soon.  

Anybody foolish enough to try to start his own college in the US would be branded a "degree mill" operator and receive a free vacation in Club Fed from an alum of a competitor.  All his Christian students would be declared criminals in Oregon and similar backward venues.

Also, below, what I thought was a better shot of the campus.  That cheesy "Geely U" shot was cropped or deliberately framed to not show the whole picture (not unlike the article):


Link to Beijing Geely University website: http://col.bgu.edu.cn/dept/e-school/school.html

Link to Li's alma mater, Yanshan University: http://www.at0086.com/YSU/
$1.8 billion in the bank suggests Mr. Li learned some good lessons there.

Unfortunately no distance programs I could find at either of those places.  

[Winston Smith]

That cheesy "Geely U" shot was cropped or deliberately framed to not show the whole picture (not unlike the article)

Yeah, I caught that too.  The Forbes picture was like "cheap Chinese knockoff!"  The Geely shot was more the way the Chinese see themselves, "Like the US, only BIGGER!!"

Unfortunately no distance programs I could find at either of those places.  

Give 'em time.  Think how much more UoPhx would be making if they could pay their adjuncts Chinese wages.

[Virtual Bison]

Model Behavior
Skills for catching shoppers' attention at auto shows are taught by 23-year-old coach and former model Guo Man (right).

I would definately consider attending this school if I could study with these fellow students. I might learn a thing or two from this teacher!

[Dickie Billericay]

I would definitely consider attending this school if I could study with these fellow students. I might learn a thing or two from this teacher!

Plus the sight of Virtual Bison sprawled across the hood of a Geelymobile would do wonders for their sales.

[Ben Johnson]

I would definately consider attending this school if I could study with these fellow students. I might learn a thing or two from this teacher!

Back off Elmo.