• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

As U.S. Treasury intervened in the bond market, the Netherlands rushed 86 tons of gold out of America because of ‘geopolitical unrest’

2

He failed the military pilot eye test—so he built a $1 million-a-day traffic company and bought flying lessons. Now he’s Top Gun’s stunt pilot 

3

Current price of oil as of September 4, 2026

1

As U.S. Treasury intervened in the bond market, the Netherlands rushed 86 tons of gold out of America because of ‘geopolitical unrest’

2

He failed the military pilot eye test—so he built a $1 million-a-day traffic company and bought flying lessons. Now he’s Top Gun’s stunt pilot 

3

Current price of oil as of September 4, 2026
Tech

Can China Teach Its Students to Be More Creative?

By
Polina Marinova
Polina Marinova
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Polina Marinova
Polina Marinova
Down Arrow Button Icon
December 5, 2017, 9:31 AM ET
Google source logo
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Chinese education has traditionally measured student success through standardized test scores and students’ abilities to play by the rules. Now the rules to the game are changing.

The modern economy is driven by creativity, innovation, and disruption. One way China is preparing its students for this new reality is by paying U.S. universities—better known for encouraging free-wheeling thought—to teach Chinese lecturers how to make their students more creative.

“Once again, America is going to teach China how to compete with America,” joked George Yip, a marketing and strategy professor at Imperial College London.

A panel at Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech International Conference on Tuesday led a discussion around how China’s education system must adapt to cultivate future entrepreneurs. The conversation quickly pivoted to the notion of individualism versus collaboration in building thriving companies.

“We have to remember that companies do not need to be built by a single individual, but by teams, the members of which have different characteristics,” Yip said. “Today, you need a technical guy, a business person, and a rule-breaker.”

Yip quickly made a distinction, however. Teams in China aren’t necessarily equal: they often revolve around one dominant player, usually the rule-breaker. “The Chinese team system is built around the boss,” he said.

Rule-breaking is not a practice often encouraged in schools in the West or in China. “In China, teacher knows best and students and parents must follow,” said Lenora Chu, the author of Little Soldiers. “I don’t think rule-breaking will be learned in the classroom.”

Ted Snyder, the dean of Yale Business School, echoed the sentiments, adding that team building is not a “skill” that can be taught within the confines of a school. Instead, it requires diversity of thought by consciously bringing together people from radically different backgrounds.

“Rather than putting six people on the same team, we have the team change,” he said. “Success means that we have to break out from our tendencies to hang out with people who are just like us.”

About the Author
By Polina Marinova
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Google source logo
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Tech


Most Popular

Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

    Latest in Tech


    Most Popular

    © 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.