July 4, 2019. Shanghai – The “Clean Cow” project – a project which reduces methane production to fight global warming through the addition of special ingredients in cattle feed – is just one of the latest initiatives by the Netherlands-based life sciences and materials sciences company DSM aimed at making the world a better place.

DSM Board Member Dimitri de Vreeze visited CEIBS Shanghai Campus today to deliver a Master Class entitled, Can Doing Business and Making Money Go Hand in Hand with Improving the World? Using DSM as an example, he introduced how companies can be socially responsible and generate profits at the same time. The event is part of the on-going CEIBS 25^th Anniversary Celebration spanning the school’s 5 campuses on 3 continents.

DSM’s history serves an example of how social responsibility can help a company stay ahead in a changing world. Established in 1902 by the Dutch government, DSM operated as a mining company until the early-1970s – a fact still referenced in the company’s name, which stands for “Dutch State Mines.” Since then, however, it has transformed into what is now a global science-based company competent in health, nutrition and materials, and a champion of clean energy and a green environment.

During his speech, Mr. de Vreeze noted that the century-old company’s vision has helped it thrive, rather than become a “dinosaur.” “We try to anticipate five to ten years ahead what the world will need, and change our portfolio and strategy accordingly. That’s why we’re still there,” he said. Behind this vision is a sense of duty not just to the stakeholders, but also to its employees, customers and suppliers, and to society in general, he added.

Mr. de Vreeze also shared reasons why DSM has managed to outperform the market. Since 2016, the company has exceeded its ambitions by achieving a compound annual growth rate of over 5 percent, while at the same time integrating sustainability into its operations.

“Apart from choosing markets where growth is projected, such as nutrition and health, we also pick market segments where we have something new to offer using strategic materials and innovative technology,” he said. “For example, car manufacturing is going down, but we’re still growing in this market because we substituted metal with engineering material solutions which lower the weight of cars. Similarly, while the sugar market is growing slowly, we have managed to outperform the market by focusing on stevia sweetener, a healthy sugar substitute that constitutes a small but strong niche in the market.”

Following his speech, DSM Global Senior Executive Vice President and President of DSM China Mr. Jiang Weiming shared his understanding of corporate social responsibility. Mr. Jiang stated that companies should try to strike a balance between profit, planet and people. “The impact will be much stronger and sustainable if social responsibility is part of the business, rather than a one-off campaign such as donation,” he said.

Mr. Jiang then introduced DSM’s sustainable practices in China. Compared with building new factories, he explained, the company prefers to acquire and revitalise old factories, converting them into modern, environmental friendly ones while at the same time retaining their old work force to achieve a sustainable community.

About 100 CEIBS students, alumni and friends attended the Master Class, which was moderated by CEIBS Professor of Economics Che Jiahua. For details on upcoming CEIBS Master Classes, visit our events page here. For more news and events related to the CEIBS 25^th Anniversary Celebration – including the CEIBS Insights 2019 Forum series – visit our special CEIBS 25 page here.

June 27, 2019. Shanghai – CEIBS this week was officially re-certified as an accredited business school by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The achievement is a testament to the CEIBS’ on-going dedication to upholding the highest standards of excellence in the field of management education as well as to its position as one of the top business schools in the world.

“In addition to underlining the quality of our programmes, this re-accreditation points to the school’s role as a leading innovator, desire to constantly to improve the quality of our offering, and mission to educate the next generation of responsible leaders,” states CEIBS Vice President & Dean Ding Yuan. “Furthermore, this accomplishment stands in recognition of the school’s continued efforts and contributions to bridging the broader world of international business.”

Founded in 1916, AACSB is the oldest and one of the most authoritative certification bodies in the world of management education. Through the organisation’s mandate of fostering engagement, accelerating innovation, and amplifying impact, AACSB accreditation has come to serve as a banner for academic excellence in the minds of students, faculty, and business leaders worldwide.

CEIBS has been continuously accredited by AACSB since 2008, and was the first business school in the Chinese mainland to have been accredited by both AACSB and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS). In 2017, EQUIS reaccredited CEIBS for the next five years in recognition of the school’s overall high quality. The AACSB accreditation also comes as the school celebrates its 25^th anniversary and a quarter century of delivering world-class programmes from its 5 campuses on 3 continents.

Dear CEIBS Alumni,

The sounds of spring have faded away and summer is already upon us. Over the last few months, as the seasons changed, we received a number of responses to our inaugural edition of this newsletter. We are greatly encouraged by the comments. One alumnus told us that his time at CEIBS enabled him to “let go of the past and strive for my ideals.” Another told us, “It is love that inspires the CEIBS community to transmit knowledge and wisdom.” It’s always a pleasure to hear from our alumni and learn about how you view the school. We also have a lot more news to share with you. Going forward, we will send out an email newsletter every quarter so we can get to know each other better. These newsletters will also be a way to keep you up to date on what is happening in the CEIBS community.

On April 13, we kicked off the China festivities for CEIBS 25th Anniversary Celebration with a majestic launch event. The gathering — held simultaneously in Shanghai and Beijing — was attended by CEIBS Honorary Professor Wu Jinglian, who reflected on his journey with the school since CEMI was set up. Prof. Wu is widely regarded as China’s most celebrated and influential economist whose disciples criss-cross the globe. Despite this, he showed great modesty, focusing on how the school kick-started his academic career, rather than his own contributions to CEIBS. He remarked, “My CEIBS story can be summed up in one phrase: ‘growing up together’. I have come a long way academically, and my colleagues deserve some of the credit for providing intellectual inspiration.” His words and deeds formed a pattern that evolved into a blueprint for the CEIBS community to follow and motivated all of us to learn and grow in pursuit of excellence. At the launch ceremony, we looked back on the journey and experiences over the past quarter of a century, reflecting on our dreams, strategy, achievements and purpose. Driven by our 25th Anniversary mission statement of China Essence, Global Significance, we will embark on a new journey to expand our global reach and enhance our international visibility. We are confident that an even more splendid future is ahead!

The anniversary celebrations could be compared to a ‘train of hope’ that has called at a number of major stations. We began at the 3rd CEIBS US Forum in Boston on May 15, where we explored four driving forces for global economic growth: digitization, innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology. We also engaged in a friendly dialogue with professors from Harvard, MIT and Northwestern University. Next, at the 5th CEIBS Europe Forum in Zurich on May 17, guests learned from one another by comparing distinct approaches to innovation in China and Switzerland. In addition to these overseas events, we also welcomed some of our old friends to the Shanghai Campus. On May 10, the EU Ambassador to China, Nicolas Chapuis, delivered a speech at our CEIBS Master Class, in which he shared his thoughts on promoting economic and cultural exchange between China and Europe. In CEIBS’ early years, Chapuis visited the school several times in his capacity as Consul-General of France to Shanghai. He has seen the school realize its dream over the years and believes it will grow into a very influential Chinese business school in the world, within the context of China’s economic rise. Then, at the CEIBS Insights Executive Reception on May 24, Dominique de Villepin, Distinguished Professor at CEIBS and former Prime Minister of France, delivered a speech entitled “The New World Order and the Power of Culture”. He made the point that in an era of competition and confrontation, “We need, more than ever, the art of dialogue, learning, and bettering ourselves.” In July, the ‘train of hope’ will also be visiting Munich, Brussels and Singapore. We will travel far and wide to promote continuous learning, communication, reflection and growth. We hope that as CEIBS alumni, you too will come aboard the train on your quest for knowledge.

While CEIBS frequently draws on current business philosophies abroad, it also keeps abreast of the latest business practices in China, which we expect to provide fertile ground for the school’s sustained development. Another important anniversary event is our 2019 Class Representative Homecoming Day, which will take place on our Shanghai Campus on June 22. We look forward to hearing the views of class committee representatives as we gather together to discuss the school’s latest developments and plans for the future, building mutual understanding and sharing insights during the process. In addition, Ms. Feng Ming-chu, advisor to Beijing’s Palace Museum and former Director of the National Palace Museum in Taipei, will give a presentation on cultural treasures; famous Peking Opera performer Wang Peiyu will host a Peking Opera musical appreciation event; and our very own Professor of Economics Xu Bin will give a talk on modern parenting philosophies, based on his personal experience. In addition, at the inaugural Business Experience Camp in mid-July, children of alumni will attend an MBA class and visit prominent Chinese and international companies, giving them an immersive learning experience on the Shanghai Campus where their parents previously studied.

Already on campus are the talent-packed EMBA2019 and HEMBA2019 Spring intake; we welcomed them in May. On average, students of the new EMBA cohort have 12 years of management experience; 98% of them are senior executives; 38% hold a master’s degree or above; and 34% of them are from listed companies. As noted in a CEIBS profile of new EMBA recruits, “Surveying the new EMBA intake offers insights into trends and changes in Chinese enterprises, and even China’s economy.” What is also exciting is that the new cohort identifies with CEIBS’ culture and values. After attending their first class on social responsibility, EMBA recruits commented, “We want to be honest and innovative.” Others said, “We regret not attending CEIBS earlier, but we’re glad we finally made the right decision.” We, in turn, would like to extend our own thanks to this latest cohort: their dedication and kindness rubs off on the school and its faculty, who put even more into CEIBS as a result.

Social responsibility is not just part of our curriculum and work; it also finds expression in the daily lives of members of the CEIBS community. This spring, the school and the Alumni Association once again jointly released the CEIBS Corporate Social Responsibility Report, which lays out alumni enterprise best practices and our faculty members’ research findings. CEIBS also stated its intention to cooperate with Mars, incorporated on joint academic research that has implications for nurturing socially responsible business leaders. This collaboration makes CEIBS the first Asian academic partner of Mars Catalyst’s Economics of Mutuality (EoM) initiative. Another globally significant event was CEIBS’ hosting of the When China Meets Africa Forum on the Shanghai Campus, a demonstration of the school’s commitment to furthering China-Africa economic cooperation and bilateral relations. There was also a visit by a panel of higher education experts from the AACSB who spoke highly of the way the school is run. We are grateful for the frank comments provided by students and alumni who were invited to receive members of the group during their visit. 

In observing the beauty of the work being done by the broader CEIBS community, we can’t help but recall Shakespeare’s famous line: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” CEIBS alumni chapters in Nanjing, Changzhou, Chongqing, Hefei and the US recently wrapped up their board of director elections, providing fresh leadership to ensure their long-term prosperity. We are also proud of our alumni cultural and sports clubs, who put in strong showings in a number of major competitions and embodied the CEIBS spirit! Meanwhile many alumni organizations and classes continue to make public service an integral part of their daily operations, reflecting the values of the CEIBS community.

Please allow us to also thank you for your staunch support for CEIBS. In 2019, the number of recruiters that accepted invitations from the CEIBS Career Development Centre (CDC) rose by 27.6% over 2018. Based in large part on the recommendation of alumni, WuXi AppTec, Juss Intelligent Sports, Xiandou Intelligent Robot, Fanli.com, DiDi and other well-known enterprises have recently added CEIBS MBA talent to their organizations. TEDxCEIBS was again supported by a donation from Zhang Yongbian (EMBA2008), a major factor in the event’s success. According to preliminary figures, in 2018 CEIBS Case Centre had 39 cases supported by alumni and their companies, 110 alumni shared hands-on experience as guest speakers at both the CEIBS Innovation Forum and overseas forum series; 201 alumni served as admission interviewers and MBA mentors, despite managing busy schedules; 1,146 alumni recommended outstanding applicants to us; and thousands of alumni actively participated at our events in China and abroad… The dedication of our alumni ties them together with us even more closely.

There are simply too many things that we would like to share with you from this spring: the winning photo in the Beautiful CEIBS faculty and staff mobile photography competition; the sense of accomplishment shared by new HEMBA students completing a group project together; the signboards on campus covered with announcements of knowledge-filled lectures; the numerous tales of learning, encounters, and transformations; and the sparkling glass pyramid under the night sky on the evening of our TEDxCEIBS event... These fleeting but authentic images provide a vivid snapshot of CEIBS and speak volumes about its resolute pursuit of excellence under the mission statement of China Essence, Global Significance.

Today is the summer solstice, marking the longest day of the year and the start of midsummer. If you couldn’t find the time to visit CEIBS in the spring, do make sure you don’t miss out on the splendid sight of the grounds at our Shanghai Campus this summer!

Finally, we hope that you may all remain positive... and enjoy a life that’s as beautiful as summer flowers!

CEIBS        

        President            President (European)
Prof. Li Mingjun          Prof. Dipak C. Jain

June 20, 2019. Beijing – Following on the success of the event at CEIBS Shanghai Campus, a second CEIBS Insights 2019 Executive Reception was hosted today in Beijing on the theme of “China and the World: New Era and New Impetus”.

CEIBS Vice President & Dean Ding Yuan chaired the reception, which included a keynote speech by CEIBS Professor of Economics Wu Ho-Mou. The event was attended by European Union Ambassador to China Nicolas Chapuis, officials from the EU Division of Department of European Affairs, Ministry of Commerce of the PRC and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC, and economic and commercial counsellors and representatives from European embassies in China. Together, they joined CEIBS professors and alumni in discussions on Europe-China cooperation and the future development of the two economies.

CEIBS Vice President & Dean Ding Yuan

In his opening address, Prof. Ding stated that, as the only business school in China co-founded by the Chinese government and the EU, CEIBS has remained committed to its special mission of providing a platform for high-level dialogues and exchange between China, Europe and the rest of the world. He cited as an example the CEIBS Insights 2018 Executive Receptions in Shanghai and Beijing, where CEIBS professors shared their ideas with government officials from China and the EU, representatives from relevant institutions, and CEIBS alumni who maintained partnerships with European companies. He also noted how these and other past events have served as a venue for in-depth exchange and discussion and to promote mutual understanding and cooperation.

EU Ambassador to China Nicolas Chapuis

In his address, Ambassador Chapuis expressed his special feeling for CEIBS. Twenty-five years ago, as Consul-General of France in Shanghai, he recalled, he witnessed the establishment of CEIBS in Shanghai, a pioneering collaboration between the EU and the Chinese government and during that period led delegations to CEIBS many times. “I am glad to see that from the outset, CEIBS has expanded its global reach in tandem with China’s economic reform. Nowadays, it has evolved into a leading business school in Asia,” he said, “The development of CEIBS provides a snapshot of China’s reform and a vivid illustration of the Chinese dream. The EU will continue to give attention and support to its development. We hope CEIBS will establish itself as a centre of excellence, where Chinese and European economists can teach, communicate and transmit knowledge so as to realise more and bigger dreams.”

CEIBS Professor of Economics Wu Ho-Mou

Prof. Wu then delivered a keynote speech titled “Reform and Internationalisation of China’s Bond Market”, in which he emphasised how China’s reform and opening-up policy, particularly in the financial service sector, has brought China closer to the outside world, and noted how China’s bond market has grown tenfold to $12 trillion (USD) over the past decade, ranking #3 in the world. In recent years, he said, China’s central bank has improved liquidity in the bond market and promoted the free conversion of RMB with various monetary tools. Furthermore, Prof. Wu described how China’s bond market has progressed toward international standards as the Chinese government has expanded market access, diversified the base of investors, removed quota restrictions, and introduced more hedging tools. The Bond Connect Programme, in particular, he pointed out, was kick started in 2017 to attract foreign investors, who have since brought to China the biggest inflow of foreign capital in the world among emerging markets. At the same time, he added, China is pushing ahead with offshore RMB trading.

According to Prof. Wu, since China’s bond financing accounts for only a small share of in its total social financing, a broad gauge of China’s lending and liquidity, and the value of Chinese bonds held by foreigners is still relatively small, China’s fixed-income market holds a huge potential for further growth. He also stated that the future reform of China’s bond market should focus on promoting information sharing among bond custodians, bringing in international rating agencies, issuing government bonds regularly based on market demand, reducing implicit government guarantees, and strengthening information disclosure and corporate governance to facilitate risk pricing. As further and deeper reform in China’s financial service sector gathers momentum, he concluded, these steps could help boost market vitality and serve as a benefit to China and the world.

 
In-depth Discussions

Following the speeches, Prof. Wu joined Prof. Ding and other guests in an in-depth discussion on local government bonds, bond risk pricing, corporate bonds, and private enterprise financing.

 
 Traditional Chinese Scroll

In order to highlight the spirit of CEIBS and the characteristics of traditional Chinese culture, the school also invited guests to sign a traditional Chinese scroll and introduced a smart calligraphy writing desk developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences to provide them with an ink-free writing experience. A billboard was also put up on site to explain the origin and significance of CEIBS’ culture of “合” (hé, which means “mutual understanding”). Under the guidance of a calligrapher, guests wrote Chinese characters like “合”, “合作” (cooperation), and “中欧25岁生日快乐” (Happy 25^th Birthday to CEIBS) in calligraphy on the smart desk in celebration of the school’s 25^th anniversary.

 
 Smart Writing Desk

June 8, 2019. Shanghai – As part of CEIBS’ on-going commitment to serving as a bridge between China and Africa, the school today hosted the 2019 CEIBS Insights China-Africa Forum: When China Meets Africa at our Shanghai campus. China-Africa business relations have developed rapidly in recent years, and China is now Africa’s largest trading partner.

In 2018, trade between China and Africa reached US$204.2 billion – a year-on-year increase of 20%. More than 3,700 companies currently operate in Africa, and China’s direct investment in Africa now exceeds $46 billion USD.

In this context, the China-Africa Forum featured a series of keynote speeches and panel discussions exploring opportunities for strategic partnerships and business cooperation in areas such as trade, infrastructure, healthcare, industrialization, and agricultural modernization, as well as the role of women in leadership in both China and Africa. The forum also helped mark more than 10 years of investment by CEIBS in world-class business and management education in Africa.

CEIBS President Li Mingjun led nearly 200 CEIBS faculty, alumni, students, and guests in opening the event, which included keynote speeches by H.E. Mrs. Xu Jinghu, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on African Affairs, and H.E. Ambassador Rahamtalla M. Osman, Permanent Representative of the African Union to China. CEIBS Africa Executive Director Mathew Tsamenyi also spoke at the forum and was joined in representing the school’s many African initiatives by around 50 participants from the school’s Women Entrepreneurship & Leadership for Africa (WELA) programme.

During his welcome address, President Li pointed out that the forum came at a good time, with China-Africa relations being one of the most important topics of interest at the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held last month in Beijing. He also used the opportunity to reaffirm CEIBS’ commitment to contributing China knowledge and to providing a platform for the enhancement of China-Africa business relations. “We are willing to take the social responsibility of CEIBS as always,” he said. “And to contribute to the economic cooperation between China and Africa and the development of the Chinese and African friendship.”

In her opening speech, H.E. Mrs. Xu emphasised that China-Africa cooperation not only promotes mutual benefit, but also creates favourable conditions for greater international cooperation with Africa. She also expressed appreciation for the efforts made by CEIBS to promote and enhance China-Africa cooperation. “For more than 10 years, CEIBS has been actively committed to cultivating African business leaders, caring for local youth groups, and training African women entrepreneurs,” she said. “It has grown into a good economic and cultural cooperation platform between China and Africa. I hope that CEIBS will continue to pursue excellence, participate more in China-Africa economic exchange and cultural cooperation, and contribute more wisdom to the cooperation of management education between China and Africa.”

In his opening remarks, H.E. Ambassador Osman stated that, “This forum is a special honour to the African continent, because it is our forum. It gives us, as a continent, a huge opportunity to once again boost and consolidate our ever growing China-Africa cooperation.” He also spoke about the critical role CEIBS has played in the socio-economic development of Africa and highlighted how, over the years, the school “has evolved into a powerful international platform that is profoundly contributing to the transformation of our nations and facilitating global economic cooperation through investment, academic excellence, and production of high calibre business leaders and entrepreneurs.”

CEIBS Assistant Professor of Strategy Richard Carney then moderated the first discussion panel of the forum on the theme of New China-Africa Strategic Partnership in the Context of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Featured in the panel were Mr. Ato Sarpong, Executive Director of African Life Assurance and Former Deputy Minister for Communications of the Republic of Ghana; Prof. Wenping He, Professor and Research Program Director at the Institute of West-Asian and African Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; and Ms. Helen Hai, Goodwill Ambassador, UNIDO. During the course of the discussion, panellists examined some of the challenges and opportunities associated with the BRI in Africa, as well as some of the factors motivating African countries and businesses to participate in the BRI.

CEIBS Associate Professor of International Business and Strategy Shameen Prashantham led the second panel of the event on Sharing of Practices on China-Africa Business Cooperation. Panellists for the session included Mr. Xiaolin Wei, President of Cherami Africa; Ms. Jinyuan Li (CEIBS GEMBA 2015), Vice President, GCL System Integration Technology Co., Ltd.; Mr. Andy Shi, President, OPPO MEA; and Mr. Runcai Chen, Vice President, Fosun Pharma Jiangsu Co., Ltd. During the session, panellists shared numerous lessons drawn from their extensive first-hand experiences doing business between China and Africa and offered recommendations for how both sides can promote mutual growth and add value to shared business activity.

CEIBS Assistant Professor of Management Emily David hosted the final session of the day on the topic of China-Africa Women Leadership Capacity Building which included as panellists Ms. Ezinwanne Ajayi (CEIBS WELA 2019), CEO of Africa Baby Care Ltd.; Mrs. Doris Yaa Aggrey Ahiati (CEIBS WELA 2019), CEO of Crescendo Heights; Ms. Julie Wong (CEIBS EMBA 2011), Head of Human Resources, Greater China, Jones Lang LaSalle; and Ms. Cuifeng Lyu (CEIBS EMBA 2008), CEO of CJ Smart Cargo Group and Director of Shanghai Representative Office of China-Africa Industry Forum of WTO. During the panel, participants shared their personal and professional journeys and highlighted some of the challenges and opportunities for women in business in both China and Africa. They also offered their thoughts on initiatives organisations can take to support women and offered advice for how women can maximise their chances of success in business.

Prof. Tsamenyi closed the event by reflecting on the important role CEIBS has played in bridging two of the most important economic and cultural regions in the world. “One of the best decisions that CEIBS has ever made was to come to Africa,” he said. “What we have done in Africa, first, is to provide a platform for African executives who want to understand China and to come to China and, second, for Chinese executives and companies who want to understand and come to Africa. And, no other institution has provided this.”

The forum was followed by a networking reception for participants and guests of the forum, including more than 100 students from CEIBS’ top-ranked Global Executive MBA programme. The 2019 CEIBS Insights China-Africa Forum also coincides with the on-going CEIBS 25^th Anniversary Celebration taking place at the school’s 5 campuses on 3 continents. For more on this and other events and activities related to the CEIBS 25^th Anniversary Celebration, please visit our special CEIBS 25 page here.

The CEIBS Africa project was first launched in 2008 with a mission to prepare highly competent innovation oriented managers and executives who are capable of leading and growing their organisations in the increasingly dynamic African economic environment. From its Accra campus and other locations around Africa, CEIBS provides a range of management education programmes, including executive-level and company specific trainings. For more information, please visit our CEIBS Africa page here.

May 27, 2019. Shanghai – As part of the on-going 2019 CEIBS Executive Forum series, CEIBS today welcomed Bosch China Executive Vice President Mrs. Rosa Lee to our Shanghai campus for an exclusive lecture and Q&A on Shaping the Organisation of the Future with the Digitalisation and Innovation of HR. During her presentation, Lee discussed how Bosch is working to maintain a strategic vision, long-term investment, and continuous innovation to build a solid foundation for the future and how, in the face of changes brought on by the digital age, the 130-year-old organisation is transforming its workforce to become a leader in Internet-of-Things technology.

Despite the progress Bosch has made as an early mover into IoT, Lee said the company still has a lot of work to do if it is to transform for the long run. For one, she noted that the interconnectedness of the space requires both radical collaboration and the ability to adapt quickly and that – amongst other things – big corporations must now seek out and form win-win partnerships with external partners.

“This whole IoT transformation is really about the ecosystem and having an IoT mind-set,” Lee explained. “In the past, Bosch was so successful in other areas [that] we didn’t need partners. But, in an IoT business model, you desperately need partners.”

At the same time, she pointed out that many organisations such as Bosch now face serious internal challenges when it comes to their workforce, especially when it comes to attracting and motivating talent. Lee also added that as demographics of the workforce continue to shift, younger employees have brought a whole new set of values into the workplace.

“For the first time [ever], we now have [four] generations in the workforce at the same time and these new generations are coming out with very different ideas,” she said. “They don’t want to work for a company. They want to develop their own strengths and their own skills and work on different projects and get paid whatever they want.”

In the past, Lee told the audience, human resource managers traditionally focused on the exploitation of new technologies, automation of processes, and maximizing operational excellence. In today’s environment, however, she noted, companies must also look into exploring new directions and opportunities.

“But, IoT requires much more on the exploration side, which involves [promoting] human collaboration, informatics, ecosystems for leaders and talents, and inspiring working conditions,” she said. “[Of course], you need to manage your cash cow business, but you have to think about and explore new business opportunities. Ambidexterity is the rule of the game for any modern HR.”

One way in which Bosch is trying to meet these challenges, Lee explained, is by leveraging new technology and trying to improve the company’s ability to obtain and make use of real-time data. In particular, she said she believes that at least part of the solution to many of these challenges lies in what she calls ‘people analytics’.

“HR usually makes decisions based on thoughts, experiences, and insights, but with so much data becoming available, it can really help you make many [people-related] decisions simply fact-based,” Lee told the audience. “[As a result], we’re now focusing on things like effortless reporting, skills management, and continuous listening.”

She explained that, ultimately, Bosch is now striving to reinvent itself as a ‘130-year-old start-up’ capable of sparking intrapreneurship amongst its employees and she emphasised that a focus on learning is a key success factor in any transformation.

“Seventy-five percent of companies fail in transformation because they don’t transform the people,” Lee said, concluding later that, “as leaders in HR, we need to realize that only if you are able to transform people will the business transformation be successful.”

More than 100 CEIBS alumni, students, and members of the Shanghai business community attended today’s Executive Forum, which was moderated by Bosch Automotive Products (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. HR VP and CEIBS GEMBA 2018 student Annabelle Cao. For more about the latest CEIBS Executive Forums and other CEIBS events, visit our events page here.

May 24, 2019. Shanghai – Representatives from more than a dozen European consulates in Shanghai along with top executives from numerous multi-national corporations were today welcomed to our Shanghai Campus for a special CEIBS Insights Executive Reception that included a keynote speech by Former Prime Minister of France and CEIBS Distinguished Professor Dominique de Villepin. The event, part of the on-going CEIBS 25^th Anniversary Celebration, was held under the theme of China and the World: New Era and New Impetus.

CEIBS President Li Mingjun and CEIBS President (European) Professor Dipak Jain, led faculty and staff in receiving VIP guests at the event. During his welcome address, Professor Jain noted CEIBS’ many achievements over the past quarter-century and shared his vision for working together to build a strong school and a better world for the future. Building on its growing reputation as Asia’s leading business school, CEIBS has now turned its attention to enhancing its international visibility, building brand presence in the US, and strengthening its European and African initiatives. All of this is being done while retaining CEIBS’ competitive advantage, its focus on China knowledge.

“We really want to be a school where the people who come here are successful, but also have a feeling of giving back,” he told the audience. “So, first and foremost, we have to build a strong community. Only with your cooperation can we take CEIBS to new heights and I truly believe the best days of CEIBS are still ahead.”

In his presentation on the topic of The New World Order and the Power of Culture, Professor de Villepin, who is also Chairman of the school’s International Advisory Board, made the point that, in overcoming the challenges faced in today’s world, the importance of culture and dialogue is greater than ever.

“Our world needs imagination, our world needs soft power, our world needs culture, and our world needs understanding,” he stated. “And, I believe, with the help of art, with the help of culture, we might be able to think bigger and think in a more collective way, not only about how much [money] we will make, but how much better the world will be in a sustainable way.”

Guests also benefitted from CEIBS Associate Dean, Santander Chair, and Professor of Economics Zhu Tian’s views on Understanding the Rise of China and Its Implications for the World. He addressed some of the questions surrounding China’s rapid economic rise, while also emphasising the importance of continuing to foster international cooperation.

“We are truly entering a multipolar world where we need more cooperation and it would be more productive for other countries to try to benefit from the rise of China – not to prevent it,” he told the audience. “But, China, Europe, and international business societies should work together for a better world with peace, prosperity, and equality.”

CEIBS Professor of Economics and Finance, Wu Jinglian Chair in Economics, and Associate Dean Xu Bin and Assistant Professor of Accounting Gianfranco Siciliano then joined guests for a roundtable discussion on a variety of topics, including the Belt and Road Initiative, followed by networking over cocktails. Today’s CEIBS Insights Executive Reception was attended by Consul Generals and other representatives from more than a dozen consulates in Shanghai. Top executives from companies such as Coach, Evonik Degusssa, Fosun Fashion Group, Bayer, Cachet Hotels & Resorts, Good Italy, Deutsche Bank, Lilly, Pernod Ricard, PWC, DSM, Emerson, and SAP also participated in the event.

Co-founded in 1994 as a joint venture between the Chinese government and European Union, CEIBS is the only business school in Asia to have simultaneously made it to the Financial Times’ top 5 list of MBA and EMBA programmes. Now in its 5^th year, the CEIBS Insights series of events includes forums and receptions hosted throughout Asia, the United States, and Europe, bringing together experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs to discuss topics relevant to the development of China, Europe, and the world. For more on these and other events being hosted as part of the CEIBS 25^th Anniversary Celebration at the school’s 5 campuses on 3 continents, visit our special CEIBS 25 page here.

May 21, 2019. Shanghai – China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) has appointed Dr. Robert Straw CEO of the school’s Zurich Campus. The appointment is effective from June 1, 2019. Robert Straw succeeds Philipp Boksberger who resigned on April 30, 2019.

Before joining CEIBS, Robert was Head of Talent Management, Leadership and Organizational Development Europe at Oerlikon AG. Prior to joining Oerlikon, he was Director of Education at the Swiss Finance Institute. He has also previously served as Head of Strategy + Operations Consulting at KPMG and worked for 7 years at Credit Suisse in private banking. Robert has also been Professor of Finance at several universities and regularly teaches on the topics of leadership and financial leadership at corporate universities and university executive programmes.

A native of the United States, he completed his undergraduate studies and MBA at the University of Richmond and George Washington University, respectively, in the U.S. and has a PhD in international economics from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland.  Robert has 4 daughters, and enjoys skiing, golf and hiking. He has been working in Europe for 25 years.

CEIBS Zurich Campus, which serves as its base in Europe, is one of the school’s 5 campuses on 3 continents around the world. It is seen as a vital part of the school’s internationalization efforts that have taken on added significance this year, as CEIBS celebrates its 25^th anniversary. The October 7 re-launch of the expanded CEIBS Zurich Campus is among the activities planned for 11 cities around the world as part of the celebration, which got underway in April and ends in November. In addition to the Zurich Campus, CEIBS has a flagship campus in China’s economic hub Shanghai, one in its political centre Beijing, another in Shenzhen in the country’s bustling south as well as one in Accra, the capital of Ghana.

About CEIBS 

China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) is among the top international business schools in Asia, where it is the only one to have simultaneously made it to the Financial Times’ top 5 list of global MBA and EMBA programmes.

CEIBS has more than 22,000 alumni from over 80 countries worldwide, and over the last 25 years has provided a broad range of management programmes to more than 160,000 executives both at home and abroad. It also offers a Finance MBA, Hospitality EMBA and a wide range of Executive Education programmes. With a faculty team that has extensive China knowledge and global insight, CEIBS is uniquely equipped to nurture business leaders, at every stage of their careers, preparing them to make a global impact. An unrivalled China expert, CEIBS is guided by the concept of China Depth, Global Breadth. This is tangibly reflected in the school’s activities and operations at its 5 campuses across 3 continents.

www.ceibs.edu