A Summer Boot Camp for the MBA-Curious in China

Mastering MBA Fitness With The CEIBS Summer Boot Camp

Every July, the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in Shanghai, home of the #1 MBA in Asia, welcomes prospective MBA students to visit their campus, experience their programs, and get to know their staff and faculty. 

The CEIBS Pre-MBA Summer Boot Camp is in its 8th year. Essentially, this immersive program aims to provide bachelor’s, master’s, and future CEIBS MBA students with a taste of the CEIBS MBA courses and facilities, while offering a certificate program to enhance their CVs over the summer. 

Do you want to pursue an MBA pathway to study for the #1 MBA in Asia? All attendees get pre-approval for the MBA pathway for up to three years upon completing the boot camp. 

What Happens at the CEIBS Pre-MBA Summer Boot Camp?

In 2025, CEIBS packed its six-day Pre-MBA Summer Boot Camp itinerary with live classes, company visits, and cultural immersion. Additionally, there was a special visit to a traditional water town on the outskirts of Shanghai.

Led by the CEIBS Admissions Team, with support from the Marketing Department, attendees were treated to an intensive week. The week was designed to give them the feel of the MBA lifestyle at CEIBS on the Shanghai campus. High-achieving students attended this year from across the globe: Canada, Germany, the U.S., Hong Kong, and, of course, many students arrived from all over China.

Over six days, the students experienced lectures based on current trends in global and local business. Topics ranged from Blockchain to the impact of ESG and navigating the Chinese economy. Moreover, students participated in class discussions and were guided through concepts and frameworks currently at play in global business through a Chinese lens. 

Rounding out the week were two in-company visits, both established by CEIBS alumni. At the end of the week, the students worked in groups on a challenge and presented to a panel of CEIBS faculty and staff. This panel included CEIBS Associate Dean and MBA Programme Director, Professor Lingling Zhang.

The week was a compelling journey into CEIBS’ living, breathing motto, “China Depth, Global Breadth.” Let’s take a deeper look at a rigorous week that was full of surprises, cultural immersion, and new friendships.

Learn more about what to expect from this program as we take you through the camp day by day:

Day 1 – A Warm Welcome and Local Hospitality

Students arrived from all over the world, and the program kicked off with an evening orientation. After a brief introduction to the program and its coordinators, the organizers hosted a welcome party. There were networking games, a photo call, and traditional Chinese food. The boot campers shared dumplings, Peking duck, and other iconic Chinese fare. It was a warm welcome and kicked off our cultural immersion from the first day.

Day 2 – Breaking the Ice and Decoding Personalities

In the morning, we were led to the gym, where we played a series of teamwork and strategy games. Each team gathered points throughout the morning’s activities, and the winners were awarded prizes before lunch in the campus canteen. 

The first lecture of the week placed emphasis on soft skill development. Students attended a workshop on ”Understanding Your Leadership Style” with Professor Juan Antonio Fernandez. This culminated in students taking the MBTI personality test. The workshop aims to help students uncover and understand their own personality traits. More importantly, you learn how to leverage them in your work environment. These were practical insights the students could immediately apply in their day-to-day lives.

Day 3 – Mastering Blockchain and Career Growth With Interview Skills That Shine

On Day 3, Professor Haikun Zhu took us on a tour of Web 3.0. We covered the fundamentals of blockchain technology and explored the transformation of business models affected by decentralization. In a lively presentation, students had the chance to identify the value and opportunities presented by blockchain in the business world.

Next, students learned how to craft a winning interview with Loewe Wang from the Career Development Center. They learned about actionable tips and strategies to stand out in interviews. After the interview workshop, we also had the chance to meet current MBA students and learn more about what it means to pursue an MBA at CEIBS.

After class, we had dinner with the current students, who shared their personal insight into the MBA experience at CEIBS. The evening ended with a game of pool, and some new friendships were made.

Day 4 – Exploring China’s Economy, Robotics, and Shanghai

Perhaps the most exciting highlight of the week was the company visit to the world-leading robotics firm, Fourier. We were guided through the premises by the Business Unit President of Fourier, Zhou Bin. He took great pride in explaining the impressive innovation in exoskeletons and humanoid robotics they have achieved over the past 10 years since its inception. Most remarkable of all was the openness and generosity of the co-founder, employee #2 at Fourier, who now service over 2000 companies and hospitals with robotics. Students had 1:1 time with him and were highly engaged in the Q&A session. 

In the evening, we were treated to a cultural visit to Xinchang. It is an 800-year-old ancient water town. We toured the canals with a guided visit by our own Boot Camp leader, Lawrence Xue. In addition, after a lovely stroll along the water-lined streets, we feasted on traditional Chinese delicacies ranging from handmade dumplings to steamed fish and seafood hotpot.

Day 5 – ESG Strategies for Corporate Leadership and Chinese E-commerce in Action

In the morning, the campers learned about “Shaping a Sustainable Future” with Professor Hongyu Shan. The bridge between sustainability and corporate leadership was transversed via ESG reports and critical insight into the drivers of sustainability concerns from live cases in China.

The second company visit of the week took us on a journey into the deep hallways of China’s leading e-commerce giant, Feiyu. This is another successful scale-up from CEIBS alumni (Executive program). The Feiyu platform specializes in pre-owned luxury goods, selling them online and via live streams in multiple languages and locations. This building was buzzing with live streams in Chinese and English, wedged between racks and racks of vintage handbags from Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and more.

The hosts gave us a walking tour of the entire operation, including warehousing, storage, repairs, live-streaming, and the storefront. They introduced us to the founder, who thoroughly explained how Feiyu grew from a local following to a global presence.

Day 6 – The Final Frontier: Collaboration and Graduation Ceremony

Professor Emma Chen delivered the final lecture, ‘Ace in the Hole – Winning a Competitive and Dynamic Business World.’ Furthermore, we learned about Blue Ocean Strategy through the case study of classical-turned-popstar conductor and violinist, André Rieu. Using a real-world example, including a video to tell the story, followed by a deep analysis of his mission to popularize a dying art form, and the business strategy that saved him from bankruptcy.

The week concluded with a real-life business challenge. Organizers divided the 20 attendees into teams. Each group prepared a 5-minute presentation about the themes and frameworks explored throughout the week’s classes. At the end of the day, the organizers announced the winning team and presented certificates to all bootcamp students during the graduation ceremony. In the evening, the whole camp celebrated with a festive graduation dinner.

On the whole, the week was the perfect blend of stimulating academic rigor and Chinese cultural immersion. Balancing a busy study schedule with exploration of beautiful Shanghai culminated in a memorable week. Overall, new friendships bloomed, and everyone left feeling a little more connected to the city and CEIBS. 

For those curious to try an MBA on for size, especially if you have your sights set on a career in Asia, this camp is a must. CEIBS grants pre-approval for the MBA to all Pre-MBA Summer Boot Camp attendees for up to three years after they complete the program.

*All photos courtesy of CEIBS

Visit previous CEIBS pre-MBA Summer Boot Camps to discover more of what you can expect: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2024.

Admissions for the CEIBS MBA 2026 intake are now open. Download or scan the 2026 MBA brochure below.

For more information on the 2026 Pre-MBA Summer Boot Camp, please visit www.ceibs.edu/mba or contact xlawrence@ceibs.edu.