On Dec 6^th, 2019, the 11th International Advisory Committee Meeting was held successfully at the School of Economics and Management (hereinafter referred to as SEM). Prof. LI Yuan, Dean of SEM, briefed the development of SEM over the past one year and gave attention to the suggestions made by advisory members. The meeting was hosted by Prof. HUO Jiazhen, the former dean of SEM and Director of International Advisory Committee.

The members of International Advisory Committee is comprised of renowned experts in the fields of economics and management both home and abroad. Committee members present at the meeting included: Prof. HUO Jiazhen, Former Dean of SEM, Tongji University; Ms. GE Xin, Senior Director, Talent Acquisition, BP–PD/Quality/Construction, NIO Car Company; Mr. JIN Weichun, Senior Director, Human Resources Department, SAIC Motor Co., Ltd (who is On behalf of General Manager of Human Resources Department, SAIC Motor, Mr. ZHU Qingmin); Mr. LI Ruicheng, SAP, Senior Vice President, Managing Director of SAP Labs China (who is On behalf of SAP, Senior Vice President, Head of Global SAP Labs Network, Head of Fast Growth Strategy Group, Mr. Clas Neumann); Mr. LIU Xinyi, President of Shanghai International Group; Prof. WU Qidi, Director of Department of Management Science, National Natural Science Foundation of China; Chairman of National Supervisory Committee for MBA Education; Former Member of Committee of Education, Science, Culture, Health and Sports, National People’s Congress, China; Former Vice Minister of Education; Former President of Tongji University; Mr. XIE Wei, Vice President of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank; Prof. ZHOU Zhen, Former Deputy Director of United Front Work of Shanghai, Former Executive Vice President of Tongji University, Former Dean of Tongji SEM; Prof. Fiona DEVINE, Dean, Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, UK; Prof. Amir REZA, Dean, Babson Academy for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurial Learning & Global Education, Babson College, US.

Prof. LI Yuan, Dean of SEM, briefed the development of SEM over the past one year in regards to student cultivation, new faculty recruitment, output of scientific research, international cooperation and rankings, which made great progress. Prof. LI expressed that the future development will be based on high quality and innovation.

Prof. LI Yuan, Dean of SEM and Prof. SHI Qian, Senior Director of SEM, issued the certificate to the three new advisory members: Mr. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Former Prime Minister of France, Mr. LIU Xinyi, President of Shanghai International Group, and Mr. XIE Wei, Vice President of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank.

Next item is a panel discussion on the topic proposed by the dean, which is usually related to the most concerned issue in our school’s strategic development. The theme of the panel discussion this year is “How to optimize structure and improve quality”. Prof. WU Qidi, Director of Department of Management Science, National Natural Science Foundation of China; Chairman of National Supervisory Committee for MBA Education; Former Member of Committee of Education, Science, Culture, Health and Sports, National People’s Congress, China; Former Vice Minister of Education; Former President of Tongji University; pointed out that the SEM future development should rely on innovation, marketing oriented, and cross discipline. Focusing on the national policies, SEM will devoted to develop talents with cross-knowledge structures. SEM will promote the collaborations with Germany and Europe making using of the platform of Sino-German Academy for Economics and Management.

Mr. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Former Prime Minister of France shared his ideas via online video. He thought that France and China are two oldest cultural civilization. The cooperation on economics and management between two countries is very important, while Tongji SEM plays an important role. He encouraged both sides strengthen the cooperation and cultivate more young people to do contribution on the peace of the world.

Prof. Amir REZA, Dean, Babson Academy for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurial Learning & Global Education, Babson College, US, emphasized the contribution of professors on social service as important as on non-academic fields. Besides, he hope to improve the academic quality and employment counselling of international students with the increasing number of international students.

Mr. LIU Xinyi, President of Shanghai International Group, made congratulations on SEM great progress. As the committee member from the industry, he indicated that the demand for future talent market in the complex talents of both arts and sciences will be more vigorous. Therefore, the school should strengthen its training in science and technology and digital literacy.

Prof. Fiona DEVINE, Dean, Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, UK, expressed that the competition and development of talents have always been the biggest challenge to the business schools. The introduction of young teachers who publish high-quality papers in international journals helps to disseminate successful experiences and practices among teachers, and complements the long-term training of the school to improve the overall quality of academic papers.

Prof. ZHOU Zhen, Former Deputy Director of United Front Work of Shanghai, Former Executive Vice President of Tongji University, Former Dean of Tongji SEM pointed out the social responsibility will be the main target of SEM future development. Faculty and students should be guided to solve practical problems with management skills and make contribution to the society,

Mr. LI Ruicheng, SAP, Senior Vice President, Managing Director of SAP Labs China, suggested that SEM should take the advantage of Sino-German companies and emphasize on the students’ communication, practice and cross-cultural ability.

Mr. JIN Weichun, Senior Director, Human Resources Department, SAIC Motor Co., Ltd, hoped to deepen the cooperation between SEM and industries, and strengthen the training and input of software and hardware talents, financial talents and international talents.

Ms. GE Xin, Senior Director, Talent Acquisition, BP–PD/Quality/Construction, NIO Car Company, said that there is a high demand for the multi-dimensional development of talents. She suggested that SEM give students more opportunities for the development of interdisciplinary subjects combined with the basic disciplines.

Established in 2008, the International Advisory Committee of Tongji SEM is an important part of the college’s governance structure. It is composed of experts with rich experience in education and management at home and abroad, who also have important influence in the field of economy and management. So far, it has been held for 10 sessions. The International Advisory Committee provides advice and guidance on major issues related to the school’s long-term development, such as strategic development, talent training and academic research, and promotes exchanges and cooperation between government, well-known enterprises and top business schools worldwide.