With a strong commitment to internationalization as well as cutting-edge teaching and research, the School of Economics and Management (SEM) at Tongji University has achieved significant progress building global competitiveness.
The school’s Master’s in Management program came in 52nd on a global ranking list released by the Financial Times in September, up from 65th the previous year when it was included in the ranking for the first time.
Meanwhile, the school’s SIMBA ranked 57th in the latest 2015 Global EMBA ranking released by Financial Times on October 19, up from last year’s 68th.
Its rise has been helped by increases in average salaries among alumni within three years of graduation. What’s more the program also ranked 13th among 80 schools in terms of value for money.
Graduates of the program can look forward to a promising future in the job market, with 99 percent of its most recent graduating class securing employment within three months of graduation.
“Benefiting from the rich heritage of its parent, Tongji University, SEM is devoted to a long-term international development strategy and application-oriented teaching and research,” said Huo Jiazhen, dean of Tongji SEM.
“These are two traits and advantages of SEM that have contributed to its rising prominence,” Huo said. “I believe SEM will continue to climb in international rankings as we continue to pursue this strategy.”
Founded by German doctor Erich Paulun, Tongji endows SEM with a global perspective on teaching and learning. SEM has collaborative partnerships with more than 70 business schools and universities in 15 countries and regions in terms of faculty and student exchange and scientific research.
It’s now a full member of global education institutions including AACSB, EFMD, AMBA and PRME and it has achieved accreditations with EQUIS, AMBA and CAMEA.
Drawing from Tongji’s advantages in engineering and the applied sciences, SEM’s research strengths lie in project management, urban development management and service sciences.
According to Huo, SEM and its alumni have participated in several large-scale development projects in Shanghai and other parts of China, including overall project management of the World Expo Shanghai 2010, the Hongqiao Transportation Hub and the Shanghai Disney Resort.
“SEM is committed to cultivating leaders and professionals who possess personality, ability and knowledge, which I believe is the value of a business school,” he explained.
SEM also aims to equip students with global business knowledge crucial for successful careers around the world.
“The business environment in China is quite different from other countries, which has led to the fact that graduates from business schools in China are less adaptable to international markets than their peers from other countries,” said Huo.
“It’s urgent for us to cultivate talent who will possess knowledge of doing business worldwide.”
The dean said SEM has made effort in this regard by improving course designs and hiring professors with international backgrounds.
Buoyed by a vibrant national economy, China’s business schools have enjoyed rapid development over the past two decades. But the recent round of economic slowdown, combined with the central government’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign, has delivered a blow to MBA enrolments.
“The economic downturn certainly has made an impact on business schools, but this cooling-off period should be an opportunity for us to make adjustments and further boost our education quality,” Huo said.
He noted that compared with Western business schools, many of which have over a century of history and experience, China’s business schools still lag in terms of the faculty quality.
“Domestic schools are facing challenges in retaining talent as top graduates tend to seek opportunities abroad,” Huo said.
In an effort to attract talent, the dean said SEM has formed an alliance with China’s top business schools. Members of the alliance will provide job opportunities to each other’s best graduates.
