Fudan University launched the country's first free executive training course for small to medium-sized enterprises yesterday, but warned prospective applicants they had to commit to their studies.

"We understand bosses are so busy that they usually cannot confirm their schedule until one hour before an event," said Lu Xiongwen, dean of Fudan's school of management.

"But no waste of resources can be excused. A commitment is required here, even if it's free," Lu said at the program's opening ceremony yesterday.

If students miss more than 20 percent of their classes they will be ordered to pay for all their tuition, school officials said.

Similar executive training programs are usually priced at about 30,000 yuan (US$3,900).

Sponsored by the Citigroup Foundation, the Fudan-Citigroup program will enroll 50 students from all over the country in each class and teach them a 10-month course similar to an MBA program.

Applicants are limited to decision-making-level professionals of companies in the manufacturing sector that own total assets of less than 100 million yuan (US$12.96 million). No academic background is needed.

Courses such as marketing, corporate governance, finance and human resources will be given by Fudan's MBA and EMBA faculties, experienced professionals and corporate trainers from Taiwan.

Zhang Zhihao, head of Citibank China's Commercial Bank Group, whose foundation has sponsored the program with a 1.15-million yuan donation, said the program will help fledging businesses overcome development barriers in a competitive market.

(Shanghai Daily April 21, 2007)