第四篇 Passage 4

Last year, Beijing University initiated a special training school for more than 200 entrepreneurs from all over the country. Rather than drive their fancy cars to class, these entrepreneurs, like other young students, ride their bikes.

“In the era of the knowledge economy, only those who have mastered certain scientific and technological principles can get ahead,” said one of the entrepreneurs at their graduation ceremony. “You may have a luxury car, but that does not mean you have the knowledge you need for the future. It is important to always learn.”

The businessmen and women attend class once a week, known among them as “brain-washing”, or “getting rid of old ideas and acquiring new modes of thought.” The lecturers are experts from all walks of life, offering case analysis on business planning, marketing, capital management, development strategies for enterprises, and qualification training.

Deng Ziqiang, head of Songben Electrical Appliances is a millionaire. But while at the university, he seemed no different from other students, wearing blue jeans and dining in the students’ cafeteria. Deng has been very successful so far in his career. But he believes that further education is necessary for success. He says, “Rules and regulations will prevail in 21st century. If you don’t know the rules of the game, you will never win.” In six months, Deng finished the nine courses he has selected. He was so confident during his final for marketing and public relations that he finished the whole exam in an hour-----when it was expected to be finished in 3 hours.

“These entrepreneurs form backbone of China’s market economy,” said Professor Zheng Xiuyi, vice president of the Institute of Economics under Beijing University. “They are interested in the training school for its case studies and simulated training.” Professor Zheng pointed out that these entrepreneurs had successful beginnings, but were faced with the problem of how to further develop. The courses will make them savvier on rules of modern business.

The university also offers an international MBA course. He Zheng, 27, is one of the students enrolled in the class. He learned to do business from his father when he was only seven years old. During his four years at university, he earned his first million yuan. When he was 25, he became a principle shareholder of an advertising company in Guangzhou City. Once, he remarked that he would like to become a billionaire by the age of 50.

He Zheng is gifted in making businesses profitable. But he admits that most of his decisions are based on instinct rather than analysis of economic indicators. He says, “I am neither good at financial affairs nor at management based on data analysis and business models. These are my weak points that should be changed.”

In the new century, businesspersons face increasingly fierce competition in the knowledge arena. To follow up with new concepts and technologies, studying at universities is the best choice for them-.