On 22 October 2024, Dr. Dan LeClair, Chief Executive Officer of Global Business School Network (GBSN), visited the School of Economics and Management (SEM) at Tongji University. Professor Shi Qian, the Senior Deputy Dean, and colleagues from the International Cooperation and Accreditation Office warmly welcomed the guests and had an in-depth communication.

During the meeting, Prof Shi Qian reviewed the history of the School and highlighted its outstanding achievements in recent years in the fields of international cooperation, international publication, industry-academia-research and sustainable development. Prof Shi Qian said that Tongji has always been focusing on sustainable and responsible business education, and is committed to cultivating business leaders with international vision, innovation capability and global responsibility. He hoped that Tongji would strengthen the contact and cooperation with GBSN in future, and jointly promote the high-quality development of business education.

Dr. Dan LeClair spoke highly of the core value and achievements of Tongji SEM, and expressed his great expectation for in-depth cooperation with SEM. He introduced the vision and operation mechanism of GBSN, shared its latest move and programs of global business education, and provided constructive advice on promote sustainability of business education together with Tongji SEM. Both parties also had an in-depth discussion on the possibilities of future cooperation, and Dr. Dan LeClair said that Tongji SEM has profound accumulation and unique advantages in the field of business education.

During the visit, both parties reached a preliminary consensus on jointly developing business education programs, academic research collaboration and students exchanges. Both sides expressed that they would further strengthen communication and contact, explore more cooperative possibilities, and contribute wisdom and strength to the development of global business education.

Global Business School Network (GBSN) is an independent organization founded by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a subsidiary of the World Bank, headquartered in Washington, D.C. Its member institutions and partners are from six continents, including top institutions in the world such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cornell University, University of Oxford, ESSEC (France), Technische Universität München (Munich), and RSM (Holland). GBSN focuses on the sustainable development of business education and is committed to fostering cooperation between business schools around the world and cultivating outstanding management talent for developing countries and regions.