Top students off to the frontline of international entrepreneurship

UTS is taking another big step in its exciting collaboration with China by sending its top business undergraduates to Beijing's most promising startups.

UTS:BUiLD Leaders + Innovators International Internship Program is a six-week program in which 10 talented students will be immersed in the world's fastest growing economy.

Megan Elliot, Manager Leadership and Community Connections, says the program is a one-of-a-kind experience for UTS Business students.

"This program takes advantage of UTS's close relationship with China – it's a totally unique experience that puts our students at the forefront of China's economic and administrative capital," she says.

Over the course of six weeks, participants will intern at an international startup in Beijing whilst working under the guidance of world-leading entrepreneurs to launch their own idea in the China market.

Andy Mok, founder of China's premier startup event, Beijing Tech Hive, is one of the program's three directors and is in Sydney to interview potential candidates.

He says immersive experiences like this are essential for entrepreneurs entering the Chinese market.

"If you want to do business in China, you have to understand the market. It's important to spend time in the market, meeting with potential customers and understanding your potential competition as well," he says.

Participants will gain a deep appreciation for contemporary Chinese culture as they learn Mandarin and experience life inside China's economic and administrative capital.

They'll also be fully immersed in international entrepreneurship as they network with the founders, senior executives and investors behind Beijing's brightest startups.

Mok believes that many opportunities exist for Australian entrepreneurs inside the world's fastest growing consumer market.

"As China increasingly urbanises and globalises and as more people move to big cities and have a more urban lifestyle, there are opportunities to provide everything from education and travel, to Australian goods like Australian wines. Really, any quality product or service has a market in China," he says.

UTS has been forging strong ties with China through its student mobility programs, institutional partnerships as well as the recently established Australia-China Relations Institute.

At present the university has more than 40 partner institutions and a network of over 5000 alumni in China, ensuring an ongoing exchange of knowledge, talent and innovation between the two countries.

Mok says the international ties that UTS are forging are mutually beneficial.

"I think there are lots of untapped startup opportunities both ways. For me, this is the opportunity to learn more about the startup ecosystem in Australia and discover what opportunities Australian students are interested in," he says.

Mok is facilitating a number of UTS:BUiLD events as part of Sydney Startup Week on his trip to Sydney. These include China: Startups and Entrepreneurs, a panel discussion about investment in China.

He believes the world of international startups has a lot to offer young entrepreneurs.

"The international startup world offers the opportunity to learn a lot, very quickly. There are a lot fewer limitations on what you can do, so you get exposed to a lot more. If you're willing to learn you can progress very quickly," he says.

Mok will assist Elliot select the 10 fortunate students participating in the international internship program.

His advice for the chosen candidates: "Be ready to learn as much as possible, be ready to ask lots of questions, work hard, and be pleasantly surprised at how much you can learn in six weeks!"

UTS:BUiLD Leaders + Innovators International Internship Program in Beijing is a for-credit internship program for UTS Business Students. Program dates are 4 December 2015 – 17 January 2016, application available online through UTS:BUiLD.