Today, with the integration of the global economy, the two engines of business innovation and technological innovation are mutually promoted, digital space and physical space are perfectly integrated, and business practice and business theory scenes are changing rapidly. In order to keep pace with the trend, lead the international frontier, cultivate a new ecology of cooperation between colleges and enterprises, and build a new base for international talents, the 6th International Advisory Board Annual Meeting of School of Management, Zhejiang University was convened to take suggestions from both at home and abroad.
In the morning of October 19, 2019, the 6th International Advisory Board (IAB) Annual Meeting of School of Management, Zhejiang University was officially held at Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University. With the theme of "Excellence through Relevance", 13 advisory board members from industry, academia, and government gathered together to further discuss and explore issues on corporate connections and examine issues including the nature and extent of the School’s interface with the corporate world; how to establish effective and sustainable academia-corporate links; and how to rebalance teaching and research to create shared value for both our corporate partners and the School. Wei Jiang, Dean of School of Management, Zhu Yuan, Senior Associate Dean of School of Management, Zhou Weihua, Associate Dean of School of Management and Wang Lei, Associate Dean of School of Management, and member of the evaluation group of business administration of academic degree committee were in attendance. More than 300 students and faculty members participated in the meeting and related activities.
Dean Wei first extended a sincere welcome to the members and guests attending the Meeting. In his speech, he reviewed a series of reforms around the concept of business plus made by the School, including the optimization of undergraduate programs, which was reduced to three majors from the original eight majors; the internationalized cultivation mode of the undergraduate - master - doctors program; and the upgrading and transformation of EMBA programs. He said "we believe that the ideal of business plus will be further practiced in the next two years, and after five or six years efforts, we will build a world-class Chinese school of management with our own unique characteristics".
WEI Jiang, Dean of School of Management, Zhejiang University
In the morning forum, Prof. Koen Becking, President of Tilburg University, Prof. Danica Purg, Dean and President of IEDC-Bled School of Management, Slovenia and President of CEEMAN (Central and East European Management Development Association), Prof. Jiatao Li, Chair Professor of Management, Lee Quo wei Professor of Business and Director of the Center for Business Strategy and Innovation, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Prof. Gao Shangquan, Honorary President of China Society of Economic Reform and Former Dean of the School of Management, Zhejiang University, delivered keynote speeches.
Prof. Koen Becking introduced Tilburg University first and stated the "Golden Triangle" ecosystem of the University, namely the three-party cooperation among the industry, university and the government. He said "we need to go beyond research, we need to influence the society and we need to change the society through our own work and the cooperation between our academia and industry". In the end, Prof. Koen Becking also expressed his great expectation for the all-round and in-depth cooperation with School of Management.
Prof. Koen Becking, President of Tilburg University
Prof. Danica Purg, shared with participants how to establish efficient and sustainable industrial and academic links. She said that "we want to be able to connect more with the business community without compromising our teaching. It should not only have practical significance for management, but also be related to the real needs of the market. We should not only globalize, but also localize. Moreover, we must keep up with the pace of the times, even ahead of the times". In addition, she also mentioned that business education should be interdisciplinary, requiring more creativity and imagination.
Prof. Danica Purg, Dean and President of IEDC-Bled School of Management, Slovenia and President of CEEMAN
Prof. Jiatao Li said in his speech that "symbiosis is very important for the personal development of business sector and business school faculty. Business schools should create opportunities for young faculty to focus not only on academic research, but also on comprehensive quality". He also mentioned that if you want to become a successful scholar, you need to cooperate with the industry; if you want to succeed in an academic project, you need to stick to reality and business. And besides, Profess Li also introduced the international development of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and its connection with business community.
Prof. Jiatao Li, Chair Professor of Management, Lee Quo wei Professor of Business and Director of the Center for Business Strategy and Innovation, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Prof. Gao Shangquan has made great contributions to Chinas reform and opening up policy. At the Meeting, he highly praised the earth-shaking changes in Zhejiang Province and pointed out that such changes are inseparable from the "Wu Qian" spirit and entrepreneurship. Taking Huawei as an example, Prof. Gao summed up the importance of excellent entrepreneurs to first-class enterprises, and proposed how to cultivate first-class entrepreneurs. At the same time, he also affirmed the internationalization strategy of the School of Management by saying that "international strategy is very important, and our School has already taken an important step in the process of internationalization".
Prof. GAO Shangquan, Honorary President of China Society of Economic Reform and Former Dean of the School of Management, Zhejiang University
In the following roundtable discussion, Prof. Koen Becking, Prof. Danica Purg, Prof. Wei Minghai and Prof. Liu Xing discussed and exchanged on the interrelation among teaching, research and field practice, and answered a series of questions from the audience.
In the afternoon, Dean Wei made a report to all the board members on the overall development of the School and the business plus ecosystem strategy. Then Prof. Zhou Weihua and Prof. Wu Aiqi, respectively discussed and exchanged with board members from aspects including teaching, combination of producing and teaching and internationalization on continuous improvement and enterprise connection.
At the end of the Meeting, Dean Wei expressed his sincere gratitude to the advisory board members for their suggestions and sharing, and promised that the School will continue to improve in compliance with the strategic guidance of the Meeting.
