Copying from others or developing locally?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the uniqueness of management development in China during 1990 and 2010 as represented by the MBA education, and to explore its successes and challenges in the Chinese transitioning context. Design/methodology/approach – The authors adopted an approach that integrated content analysis of literature, historical data and interviews. Findings – It was found that successful practices such as the National MBA Education Supervisory Committee, the top‐down approach by the government, the emphasis on international collaborations and faculty development, national MBA entrance examinations, and other related measures have maintained the MBA education system on its current development course, while challenges from the ever‐changing context, the balance between internationalization and localization, curriculum design with the Chinese characteristics will continue to shape the future of MBA education in China. Practical implications – Copying from others for management development in the initial stage may be feasible, but it is the localization that ensures flexibility and sustainability. Originality/value – There has been insufficient systematic assessment of MBA education in China. This paper examined MBA practices and challenges in the past two decades of development and offers policy implications for future program development.