On April 7th, the 1st edition of the Innovative Practice & Action Learning (IPAL) programme was officially launched at Tongji SEM. 12 delegates from six companies – Beijing Jingdong Digital Intelligence Industrial Technology, YTO Express, Shenzhen Transsion Holdings, VLINKER, VIOOH China, Shanghai Tongzheng Construction Technology Group – joined over 20 international students from SEM’s Global Management Master’s (MGM) programme, international exchange students from top-ranked partner business schools, including ESCP in Europe and HSE University in Russia, as well as Chinese students from SEM at the kick-off ceremony.

Professor LIANG Jian, Deputy Dean of Tongji SEM, 3 academic mentors including Professor MAO Wenzheng, MGM Academic Director, LI Haiying, Assistant Professor of Economics and Finance, and JIANG Hui, Assistant Researcher of Marketing; as well as faculty members including CHENG Guoping, Director of Professional Degree Center and MBA/EMBA Center, Grace SHOU, Director of Marketing and Promotion Office and Deputy Director of MBA/EMBA Center, and ZHANG Yue, Deputy Director of Alumni and Corporate Relations Office attended and witnessed the kick-off ceremony and had in-depth exchanges with the corporate delegates and students of the programme.

Group Photo of Company Representatives, Faculty Members and Students at the First Kick-off Session of the IPAL Programme

In his opening speech, LIANG Jian emphasized that the successful launch of the IPAL programme was due to the strong support of six partner companies, the close collaboration between academic and corporate mentors of the nine projects, and the active participation of students. He encouraged participants to take advantage of the three-month opportunity to interact with industry professionals, apply theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges, and enhance their intercultural communication skills. He emphasized the programme’s role in helping students understand the challenges facing Chinese companies in terms of globalization, technological innovation, digital transformation and ESG, thereby fostering entrepreneurial thinking and career readiness. Professor LIANG also presented certificates of appreciation to the corporate partners, reaffirming the school’s commitment to industry-academia collaboration in cultivating globally-minded, practice-ready talent.

Opening speech by Professor LIANG Jian, Deputy Dean of Tongji SEM

The event culminated in a group discussion and Q&A session. Corporate mentors presented real business challenges and corporate visions, sparking a dynamic exchange with the students. Under the guidance of academic mentors, project teams refined objectives and collaboration plans, laying a solid foundation for the implementation of the programme.

IPAL Program Group Discussion

The first IPAL programme will cover nine strategic projects, such as “VIOOH’s Brand Globalization and Asia-Pacific Business Expansion”, integrating course tools such as Global Supply Chain Management into practical scenarios. Over the course of three months, a dynamic assessment mechanism will help companies identify top international talent. Bridging theory, case studies and real-world applications through a dual-mentor system (academic and corporate), the programme addresses the challenges of global expansion, technological innovation and ESG, equipping students with both global strategic thinking and localized execution skills. The IPAL model – characterized by collaborative problem solving, talent development and shared outcomes – enhances corporate social responsibility profiles while setting a benchmark for higher education to align with national strategies and societal needs.

The Innovative Practice & Action Learning (IPAL) programme combines academic and corporate mentorship to integrate classroom theory with industry practice. It aims to help students understand the challenges of globalization, digital transformation and ESG, while strengthening their innovation and entrepreneurship skills. For companies, the programme accelerates international talent recruitment, enriches team diversity with cross-cultural perspectives, and enhances corporate soft power. Faculty expertise also provides actionable insights into business challenges, such as global expansion strategies, through deliverables such as project reports and business plans.