School of Business

"Investing in China" conference gathers leading investment experts

Investing in China is the theme of a School of Business conference Sept.24 at the Overland Park Convention Center. Speakers will discuss China's rapidly changing economic, political and legal environment and assess current prospects and strategies for investors.

The keynote speaker, Kent McCarthy, is president, owner and founder Jayhawk Capital Management, LLC, and investment manager of the Jayhawk China Fund, established in 1997. McCarthy has extensive experience investing in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Shanghai-listed shares. Other speakers include Karim Pakravan, vice president, senior economist and foreign exchange strategist at the Global Currency and Commodity Group of JP Morgan Chase; Kris Knutsen with the China Services Group of Deloitte Touche, LLP; Patrick Lin, managing member, Primarius China Fund; and Ken Lu, managing director, Apac Greater China Fund.

Chinese economic growth has averaged 8 percent per year for the past 20 years and is expected to grow at a high rate for the foreseeable future. China had no listed stocks before 1990. Today it has listed companies with a market capitalization of more than $500 billion. So far this year, Chinese companies have issued $6 billion in IPOs and $5.8 billion in secondary offerings. At the same time, cautious observers express concern about the Chinese legal environment, the valuation of China's currency and its demographic challenges.

The conference is made possible through the generosity of KU alumnus Ken Wagnon. For more information about "Investing in China," contact George Bittlingmayer, (785) 864-7541, or visit the KU Business School website at www.business.ku.edu.

Business Thematic Learning Community

Lisa Leroux-Smith

Nineteen freshmen at KU who hope to study in the business school are now members of the new Business Thematic Learning Community (TLC). The students live on the same floor of Ellsworth Hall, along with a business upperclassman peer educator, who serves as a mentor and resource for academic questions and concerns. They are enrolled together in three courses focused on communication and ethics, and these students, as freshmen, will have rare access to business faculty and other opportunities. Unlike many other schools on the KU campus, the business school accepts students in their junior year, so the TLC program offers an early contact.

Lisa Leroux-Smith, coordinator of the Business Thematic Learning Center, said research has shown that students who share an interest, major or goal, who are co-enrolled in two or three of the same courses, and who also share a residential environment, a peer advisor, and a mentor, are more likely to succeed.

This is the first year for a Business TLC, and it will expand to include up to 40 students next year. TLCs are in their second year at KU. Other TLCs are available for students interested numerous areas, including pre-law, fine arts, psychology, engineering, science, music and film.

For more information visit the School of Business website.