Purpose: This study is intended to investigate the current status of corporate universities in China. It aims to explore the processes and practices of corporate universities in China, and discover the issues and challenges involved in building and running a corporate university in China. Design/methodology/approach: The heads of 11 well-known corporate universities in China were interviewed. In addition, documentary data were also collected to triangulate with the interview data. Findings: Compared with best practice corporate universities worldwide, the 11 corporate universities in this study have done well in three aspects, namely, learning initiatives support strategy and business goals, strong top management support, and leaders as teachers in management training programs. What needs improvement is the lack of a training evaluation mechanism. Practical implications: The findings of this study provide a reference point for, and insights into, the processes and practices associated with corporate universities, and afford an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the issues and challenges involved in building and running a corporate university in China. Originality/value: This study represents one of the first attempts to understand how a corporate university model works in the Chinese context. As such, it helps enrich the literature of corporate universities.