The ‘Asia-Pacific Business School Deans Summit (APDS)’, held from September 25th (Wed.) to the 27th (Fri.) and hosted by KUBS, was a new initiative not only in Asia, but also world-wide which provided a space for deans from 64 business schools in 22 different nations in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss the vision of Asian business education, in accordance with the shift in economic focus to the Asian region. The KU Business Journal covered the 3-day long Summit.

September 25th (Wed.)

Partnership agreement meetings with participant schools and a welcoming dinner were held at Walker Hill Hotel on September 25th (Wed.). Dean Doo-Hee Lee, Associate Dean Daeki Kim, and Associate Dean Sang Yong Kim discussed a variety of partnership opportunities including undergraduate and graduate student exchange, joint MBA programs, and construction of an overseas campus. KUBS signed an agreement with a total of 11 schools including Peking University – Guanghwa School of Management (China), FPT University (Vietnam), Leeds University (England), Euromed Management – Kedge Business School (France), Institut Teknologi – Bandung School of Business and Management (Indonesia), University of Chile (Chile), University of the Philippines - College of Business Administration (Philippines), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University – Faculty of Business (China), Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), Peking University – HSBC Business School (China), and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (Brunei).

Dean Doo-Hee Lee and more than 70 deans from participant business schools, as well as Vice-President of Korea University Jung-Yul Park and Vice-President of Korea University Jong-Ho Lee attended the welcoming dinner to celebrate the opening of the APDS. The deans representing business schools from 22 nations in the Asia-Pacific region were able to relax while enjoying the dinner and networking with one another. In particular, the celebratory performance by Voice Orchestra/men’s choir, I Maestri, helped to liven up the mood.

September 26th (Thu.)

On the second day, the deans were divided into 5 groups and where they each discussed the themes of Education, Research, Collaboration, Career Development, and Entrepreneurship.

In the Education Session, a case study about business education specialized to the Asia-Pacific region was presented. An issue was raised during the discussion about how companies are interested in innovative education but are often disappointed when students lack professional knowledge. Concerning this issue, Dean of Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education - EGADE Business School, Maria de Assad Dieck-Assad said, “We must think about what companies want” and “we must also provide practical education so that students can learn communication and negotiation skills.”

In the Research Session, utilizing Asia-Pacific characteristics, the topics that universities must jointly research and the method for doing so was discussed. The publication of a journal of Asian business case studies and an effective research method that would satisfy the needs of students, professors, as well as companies were the main discussion topics during this session. Herve Mathe, Dean of ESSEC Business School, stressed that, “We must define the business environment of the Asia-Pacific region and, in order to set a foundation of knowledge, the sphere of inquiries must be extended to a global level and a systematic approach must be adopted.”

For the Collaboration Session, Fudan University and the National University of Singapore, both joint partners for the S³Asia MBA with KUBS, participated in the discussion. KUBS Professor Yong Keun Yoo led the discussion concerning the process, results, and developmental direction of the S³Asia MBA. This specialized daytime MBA program is one where students spend one semester each in Fudan University, KUBS, and National University of Singapore for a total of three semesters (18 months) and receive an undergraduate dual degree from the home university and the partner university. Associate Dean Ajay Vinze of Arizona State University said, “Reputation, profit, and rankings are important issues regarding the success of a joint MBA program” and “the program stability is also a necessary matter to consider in going through with creation of a joint MBA program as well.”

The Career Development Session revolved around successful career development in the Asia-Pacific job market and a consulting program as well as the creation of an MBA job market. Deputy Dean Hum Sin Hoon of the National University of Singapore – Business School said, “Universities must have the perspective of looking forward to the year 2050” and “we must extend the range of education so that students can receive a business education specialized to Asia along with the three C’s – Cause (knowledge), Cost, Career vision.”

Lastly in the Entrepreneurship Session, a successful case of entrepreneurial spirit development was presented and Dean Joyce Teo Siew Yean of Universiti Brunei Darussalam – Faculty of Business, Economics and Policies Studies was the plenary speaker. She remarked, “All people, anyone, including young people, are bound to have entrepreneurial spirit” and “business education must help students to cultivate the desire to take on challenges along with a critical mindset and business planning ability as an entrepreneur, as well as patience and a diligent attitude.”

September 27th (Fri.)

On the last day of the APDS on September 27th (Fri.), deans of the participant business school visited the Hyundai Motor Asan Factory. Over 70 deans were able to look around the factory and discuss topics such as the company environment, market conditions, and future prospects of the Hyundai Motor Company, an automobile industry that is leading not only domestically, but also globally. The Hyundai Motor Company contributed immensely for the construction of KUBS’s new landmark, Hyundai Motor Hall, and also played a big role in helping to host the APDS through further monetary donations as well.

After the Hyundai Motor Asan Factory visit was the basketball game of the ‘2013 Annual Ko-Yeon Sports Festival’ in Jamsil. The Korea University basketball team, which dominated the National Amateur-Pro Basketball Game Finals, as well as the passionate cheering of Korea University and Yonsei University students, who filled the court with a sea of crimson and blue, left the deans of the participant business schools constantly exclaiming in awe.

Dean Bernard Belletante of Euromed Management in France remarked, “A culture with such a large-scale audience gathering together to cheer like this at a university competition is extraordinary” and “it is good to see the passion of students of such prestigious and representative universities of Korea such as Korea University and Yonsei University.”