The 2nd edition of the “Innovative Practice – Action Learning” course officially kicked off on March 11^th. Fourteen representatives from nine companies, including Siemens, YTO Express, VLinker, Dewu, VIOOH, OCBridge, Neobio, Yusine and Shanghai Tongzheng, attended the ceremony. They joined the launch event with over 30 other participants, including international students from the MGM Program, exchange students from Tongji SEM’s top partner business schools, and Chinese students.

Ms. Grace Shou, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Accreditation at Tongji University’s School of Economics and Management; Professor Mao Wenzheng, Academic Director of the Global Management Master’s Program; Professor Han Zheng, Associate Professor in the Department of Innovation and Strategy; Professor Li Haiying, Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics and Finance; Professor Xiao Chao, Assistant Professor in the Department of Construction Management and Real Estate; along with Ms. Zhang Yue, Deputy Director of the Alumni and Corporate Relations Office, attended and witnessed the ceremony.

Group Photo of the Second Cohort of the 2^nd IPAL Course

In her opening remarks, Grace noted that the successful launch of the second edition of the IPAL course was made possible by the strong support of nine enterprises, the close collaboration of fifteen project mentors, and the active participation of Chinese and international students. The core mission of IPAL is to break down the barriers between theory and practice. This is a valuable opportunity for our students to immerse themselves in the real business world. Over the next three months, they will hone their cross-cultural communication skills and gain first-hand insight into the complex strategic and technological frontiers at the forefront of global change, through meaningful interaction with partner companies.

The attending enterprises introduced their businesses and international development strategies, expressing their eagerness to collaborate with Tongji SEM to strengthen partnerships and nurture talent. They aim to integrate classroom theory with corporate practice by exploring and refining approaches to nurturing innovative, multidisciplinary talent with a global perspective and strong management skills together.

Participating Companies’ Business Introduction

The event concluded with group discussions and a Q&A session. After mentors from each company presented real-world business challenges and their corporate vision, students shared their diverse perspectives and engaged in productive discussions. Working alongside on-campus mentors, project teams clarified and refined their project objectives and methods of collaboration, ensuring that their projects could be implemented smoothly.

Group Discussions

Through its integrated approach to joint problem solving, talent cultivation and shared outcomes, the IPAL project has established an innovative higher education model at Tongji University. This model serves national strategies while creating multidimensional value for enterprises. The dual-mentorship system enables companies to identify international talent with cross-cultural skills, thereby enhancing team diversity. Companies also benefit from the analytical insights and course reports provided by Tongji’s business faculty, which help them to make informed decisions relating to areas such as overseas expansion strategies. This approach elevates perceptions of corporate social responsibility and effectively boosts intangible assets.

The 2nd Edition of IPAL course addresses fifteen real-world strategic challenges by integrating practical tools from subjects such as marketing into hands-on projects. Through a dynamic three-month assessment process, it helps enterprises identify international talent at an early stage. The programme provides a seamless ‘theory-to-practice’ training pathway and employs a dual-mentor system featuring academic and corporate mentors. Business issues, such as overseas expansion and technological innovation, are transformed into teaching resources, equipping students with the dual competencies of global strategic thinking and localised implementation capabilities.

【About the Tongji SEM’s Master of Global Management Program】

The Tongji Master of Global Management (MGM) program is a full-time academic degree program taught entirely in English for international students. It aims to cultivate global talents who master international management theories and methodologies, understand the intricacies of doing business in China, and are committed to assuming management leadership roles in cross-cultural work environments. The program emphasizes cultivating entrepreneurial spirit, values the integration and learning from diverse cultures, and is committed to creating an exceptional learning and living environment. Ranked No.8 globally and No.1 in value for money in the Financial Times 2025 Global Master in Management (MiM) Ranking, the program stands as a leader in its field.

Visit the website to find out more about the MGM program: MGM