NextGen China is a program designed for mid-level Chinese museum professionals to strengthen their leadership and management skills. It is aimed at Chinese museum leaders who are dedicating their careers to transforming the museums in China for greater capacity and innovation into the twenty-first century.

The intensive curriculum includes topics on leadership assessment and development, team leadership, strategy and innovation, audience engagement, visitor-experience mapping, design thinking, and best and next practices in Chinese Museums. Faculty come from the Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management at CGU, as well as including other MLI faculty and staff. The program combines online modules with a residency program in China. Course materials and group discussions are delivered in English and Chinese. Fellows are supported in their learning by Chinese alumni of the Museum Leadership Institute who serve as peer mentors.

NextGen China is a multi-year collaboration between MLI and the Chinese Museums Association that began in 2017. NextGen China 2017 with 25 fellows was held in Xi’an in September 2017 and was also supported by the Shaanxi History Museum, the Shaanxi Normal University, and a grant from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. NextGen China 2019 with 34 fellows ran in Suzhou in October 2019 in partnership with the Suzhou Museum.