A report by the geopolitical research firm Strategy Risks alleges that Missouri State University (MSU) has been educating executives connected to China's military-industrial complex for over two decades. The report, titled "Heartland for Hire," claims that MSU's MBA and Executive MBA programs trained more than 1,500 Chinese executives, government officials, and state-owned enterprise managers since 2001, including individuals associated with the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), which is designated as a Chinese military company by the U.S. Defense Department.
The report suggests that the program has not received adequate scrutiny in Washington regarding U.S.-China academic ties. It highlights that congressional and executive branch attention has primarily focused on specific areas such as STEM research theft and military-affiliated graduate students, while overlooking the training of executives in business programs.
In response to the report, a spokesperson for Missouri State University stated that the institution was aware of the claims and denied that taxpayer funds were used for the program. The spokesperson emphasized that the curriculum was conventional and that students adhered to U.S. visa regulations.
The report also alleges that participants were largely selected through Chinese government agencies and state-owned enterprises rather than through the university's standard admissions process. It describes the partnership as a "China-U.S. state-to-state cooperation project" and notes that some graduates later held positions at organizations restricted by U.S. regulations.
While the report cites Chinese recruiting materials indicating that parts of the program's costs may have been subsidized by U.S. government funds, it acknowledges that no public records confirm these payments. The report concludes that the MSU program reflects a gap in oversight regarding foreign influence in U.S. higher education, raising concerns about national security risks and foreign interference on college campuses.