Last fall, 11 employees from the Shandong Tobacco Company began a three semester-long accelerated Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) program at IIT Stuart School of Business. Ranging in age from 25-46 years old, the cohort members took year-long sabbaticals from their positions — administrative clerks, secretaries, HR and sales managers, and a chemical engineer and Vice President — to receive public administration and management training.

Group leader Jiandong Xie mentioned that studying public administration theories and their application in American social and political life, was a highlight of his time in the program. Roland Calia, M.P.A. Program Director, works with an agency in China to facilitate programs at IIT Stuart for cohorts, with a new group from Beijing anticipated to join in spring 2015.