Barbara Mihm, assistant professor in business administration at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP), recently returned from a two-week faculty exchange program in China. She was one of three faculty members selected to represent the University of Wisconsin System.

Mihm visited Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hangzhou. Her trip was sponsored by the University of Wisconsin Centers for International Business and Economic Research (CIBER), established as a result of the federal Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 in order to increase and promote the nation’s capacity for international understanding and economic enterprise. CIBER offers grants for faculty development study programs in China, India and other countries.

"It was a wonderful opportunity and will lead me to greater research on China’s evolving supply chain management processes and business sourcing decisions." Mihm said. "Witnessing first-hand the growth of Chinese businesses was breathtaking and a wake-up call for American businesses on a variety of business matters including intellectual property rights, product quality control (toys and other goods), and how to work with state-owned enterprises."

Mihm was joined by 21 other faculty members from other U.S. campuses. The two-week program included visits to 25 companies, universities and government offices.

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