Chula’s Sasin School of Management and Zhejiang University School of Management Sign MOU and Launch Regional Business Center in Bangkok 

Bangkok, Thailand — 18 November 2024 — Sasin School of Management and Zhejiang University, two leading institutions in business education across Asia, have formalized a strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and celebrated the grand opening of the “Zhejiang University School of Management–Sasin School of Management Regional Business Center” in Bangkok. 

The partnership aimed at enhancing business education across Southeast Asia and China and will focus on developing innovative degree programs, executive education initiatives, and double degree offerings designed to equip managers and entrepreneurs with vital cross-cultural communication and management skills. This will also facilitate joint research projects to advance the fields of business and management education, positioning both institutions at the forefront of global business thought leadership. 

The MOU enables the creation of joint programs, as well as collaborative research projects in management and management education. These initiatives will facilitate knowledge sharing, academic exchanges, and interdisciplinary research, meaning both institutions can address global and regional challenges more effectively. 

“This strategic collaboration marks a significant advance in business education, executive training, and management research for this entire region,” said Professor Ian Fenwick, Director of Sasin. He also added that “This alliance will allow us to design tailored programs that equip future leaders with the skills necessary to excel in today’s interconnected global markets.” 

“This is an important step towards Sasin’s goal of building a global reputation for regional expertise.  This MOU creates a platform for Sasin to work with Zhejiang University School of Management to build joint business education and research programs. By co-developing programs tailored for senior managers, entrepreneurs, and government officers, we aim to improve cross-cultural communication, develop management capabilities, and strengthen ties between China, Thailand, and ASEAN. The establishment of the Zhejiang University School of Management – Sasin School of Management Regional Business Center underscores our shared commitment to advancing thought leadership and fostering impactful educational exchanges.”, said Prof. Fenwick, Director of Sasin. 

“Our School, established in 1980, shares a similar age with Sasin. Today, as we work together, we aim to bring new vitality to academic and cultural exchanges in ASEAN and beyond,” said Professor Yuan Zhu, Chairman of the School Council, School of Management at Zhejiang University. “I believe this event signifies a new chapter in our two schools’ friendship and cooperation, and a significant step forward in educational exchanges between China and Thailand.” 

Sasin School of Management will launch the following specific programs: 

• Executive education programs for Chinese expat managers and entrepreneurs designed to enhance cross-cultural communication and management skills. 
• An MBA double degree program jointly offered by Sasin and Zhejiang University School of Management, using blended learning methods at Sasin. 
• Joint research initiatives focusing on advancing management and business education practices. 

To overcome the challenges in the implementation, Prof. Fenwick shared that they would need to understand and respect the requirements of both universities, while also creating programs with strong market appeal. Building a deep understanding of the needs of Chinese executives and entrepreneurs based in Thailand will be a top priority. 

The Regional Business Center, on the fifth floor at Sasin, signifies the institutions’ commitment to excellence in business education. This new center will serve as a collaborative hub, advancing thought leadership and exploring new opportunities for impactful partnerships across China, Thailand, and Southeast Asia. 

Sasin School of Management was established in 1982 in a collaboration between Chulalongkorn University, the Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University, and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. 

As the first school in Thailand to earn international accreditations, Sasin maintains the highest standards of excellence in teaching, research, curriculum development, and learner success. Sasin’s focus is to inspire.connect.transform for a better, smarter, sustainable world. This philosophy is reflected in our innovative leadership programs emphasizing sustainability through an entrepreneurial mindset. Sasin is the first higher educational institution in Thailand to embrace a comprehensive policy on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access to Learning (IDEALS). 

According to Prof. Fenwick, Director of Sasin, Technology will be a cornerstone of the partnership, and they are very close to eliminating language constraints from their educational capabilities. This partnership will advance their use of AI-driven automated translation and lip-syncing, enabling seamless collaboration through virtual classrooms, online research cooperations, and digital tools for program delivery. These technologies will allow faculty and students to engage, access resources, and maintain continuous communication, irrespective of their native tongue. This has the potential to extend the markets not just of Sasin and ZJU School of Management, but of the entire universities within which they operate.  Additionally, technology will support hybrid (blended) learning formats to accommodate the diverse needs of participants. 

The School of Management at Zhejiang University (ZJUSOM) is a leading business school and pioneer in management education in China. Hangzhou as the capital of Zhejiang, China, is a pivotal hub for entrepreneurship both nationally and internationally. Underpinned by the region’s thriving private economy, ZJUSOM boasts unrivaled connectivity with industry, ensuring uniquely outstanding capabilities in innovation and entrepreneurship. 

ZJU celebrated its 120^th anniversary in 2017, broke into the world’s top 100 universities for the first time (QS 2018) and was selected for the national “Double First-Class Initiative” a major commitment made by the Chinese government to improve China’s higher education power and international competitiveness. Moreover, the university aims to inspire critical thinking and nurture global citizenship through the integration of “four learning spaces”. These spaces include cross-disciplinary classroom experiences, on-campus activities, social practices, volunteer work and outbound exchange programs.  

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Line