Teaching Across Cultures: Reflections from an Intensive Teaching Experience in Tianjin, China
This learning and teaching post is authored by Dr Buddhika Mudannayake | Lecturer in Management
Late last year, I had the opportunity to spend two weeks in Tianjin, China, to teach MGT382 Strategy and Corporate Governance subject as part of an intensive teaching program with our China Joint Cooperative Program. The experience was both professionally rewarding and personally enriching, offering valuable insights into teaching international cohorts.
Image: MGT382 students from the Tianjin University of Commerce (TUC). Source: Dr Buddhika Mudannayake, copyright 2025
The intensive format meant that each day combined lectures with tutorials, where students further explored the concepts covered in class. During the tutorials, I also assessed students’ first presentation assessment. This provided an excellent opportunity to observe not only their understanding of strategic management concepts but also how they applied theory to practice.
“One of the most rewarding moments was observing the students’ presentations. Their hard work was evident not only in the way they confidently presented their ideas but also in the quality of their presentation materials. Thoughtfully designed slides, effective use of images and animations, and carefully selected examples from organisations across China, Australia and the United States demonstrated a genuine commitment to learning. Seeing students take ownership of their work and confidently apply strategic management concepts to real-world organisations was particularly rewarding as an educator.”
Image inset left: MGT382 students from the TUC. Source: Dr Buddhika Mudannayake, copyright 2025
The students were highly engaged, respectful and welcoming throughout the two weeks. While classroom discussions were active, I also recognised that cultural norms may have influenced students’ willingness to openly challenge ideas or ask critical questions during lectures. Interestingly, many students preferred to remain after class or tutorials to ask thoughtful questions in a more informal setting, where they appeared more comfortable engaging in discussion.
One aspect of the experience that particularly stood out was the students’ hospitality. They regularly accompanied me to and from the teaching building, ensuring I found my way around campus and taking every opportunity to continue conversations about the subject and university life – a wonderful way to engage with me in a personal level while practising their English language.
Teaching in Tianjin reinforced the importance of recognising cultural differences in classroom participation while appreciating the many ways students demonstrate engagement. It was a memorable experience that strengthened my commitment to creating inclusive learning environments for international cohorts.
Dr Buddhika Mudannayake’s expertise lie in Leadership, Group Interactions and Performances, Organisational Behaviour, Business Management and Human Resource Management. Buddhika is actively engaged in leadership research, has presented her research findings at several international conferences.
