May 19, 2025. Shanghai - CEIBS President (European) Prof. Dominique Turpin delivered a keynote address and moderated a high-level panel at the AAPBS Academic Conference today.

The 2025 Academic Conference of the Association of Asia-Pacific Business Schools (AAPBS) was held at the School of Management, Fudan University. This year’s conference, themed "Pioneering for Change: Global Business Education in the Sci-Tech Innovation Era," brought together over 40 experts, scholars, industry guests, and faculty and students from 30 B-Schools from Asia Pacific to discuss cutting-edge trends and research in management education. CEIBS officially joined AAPBS in 2024. This year’s conference theme provided the backdrop for a timely discussion on “Globalising Asia-Pacific Business Education.”

In his keynote speech, Prof. Turpin outlined four macro challenges reshaping global business education: the rebound in graduate management program applications, particularly specialised master’s degrees; growing geopolitical and economic uncertainty affecting study decisions; shifts in student mobility with more candidates choosing to stay closer to home; and the declining emphasis on developing a global mindset among students and employers. Despite the Asia-Pacific’s growing influence in trade and innovation, he noted, international student inflows remain below pre-COVID levels, presenting a paradox for regional business schools.

Prof. Turpin highlighted CEIBS’ responses to these trends, including the recent launch of a Global MiM double-degree program with ESCP, enhanced international marketing efforts, and deeper global partnerships. He called on regional schools to differentiate, innovate, and internationalise in order to remain relevant and competitive in an increasingly fragmented global landscape.

The keynote was followed by a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Prof. Turpin, featuring Dr. Ian Fenwick (Director, Sasin), Prof. Jumana Zahalka (Deputy Dean, NUS), Mr. Jeongmin Seong (Partner, McKinsey Global Institute), and Ms. Yulia Jiang (Head of School Relations, GMAC Greater China). The discussion centred on how APAC institutions can adapt their curricula and delivery to meet rising expectations around ROI, tech integration, and global relevance.

Ms. Jiang shared that prospective students are increasingly practical, placing return on investment, career outcomes, and affordability ahead of traditional rankings. Mr. Seong offered a macroeconomic view, emphasising that we are entering a new global era marked by supply chain shifts, AI acceleration, and geopolitical restructuring. Business schools, he argued, must train students not just for their first job, but to remain adaptable throughout lifelong careers.

From an academic perspective, Prof. Zahalka and Dr. Fenwick stressed the role of curiosity, problem-solving, and ethical AI usage in modern pedagogy. Both highlighted how schools are evolving curricula, incorporating AI tools into teaching, and exploring blended formats to balance flexibility with human interaction.

As the session concluded, Prof. Turpin reiterated the need for Asia-Pacific business schools to find a delicate balance between serving local markets and preparing students for global competition. He noted that in today’s sci-tech driven economy, global competence and digital adaptability are no longer optional - they are imperative.