On July 6, 2026 Deans' Seminar of the Council on Business & Society (CoBS) was held at the Zhengli Campus of Fudan University School of Management (Fudan SoM).

Hosted by Fudan SoM, the seminar brought together 20 deans and representatives from CoBS member schools around the world, including ESSEC Business School, FGV EAESP, IE Business School, Keio Business School, Monash Business School, Smith School of Business at Queen's University, Stellenbosch Business School, Trinity Business School, and Warwick Business School. Participants gathered at the Zhengli Campus to exchange views on topics including responsible leadership, global talent development, and the transformation of business education in the age of AI. Dean Xiongwen Lu and Dean-Elect Fuqiang Zhang attended the event representing Fudan SoM.

Exchange of Ideas: Global Deans Discuss the Future of Business Education

At the closed-door seminar in the morning, Dean Xiongwen Lu delivered welcome remarks and extended a warm welcome to the guests who had traveled from afar. He noted that since its founding in 2011, CoBS has developed into an international collaborative community comprising 12 leading business schools across six continents. Against the backdrop of increasingly complex global challenges, the shared mission of promoting responsible leadership has become even more important. He expressed the hope that member schools would take this Deans' Seminar as an opportunity to deepen exchanges and further strengthen their partnerships.

During the exchange session, participating deans and representatives shared the progress of various collaborative initiatives since the previous CoBS Deans' Seminar, as well as flagship projects launched by their respective schools over the past year. From the transformation of business education in the age of AI and industry–academia–research collaboration in climate action, to the development of innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems and the application of frontier technologies such as VR in teaching, member schools actively explored areas of cross-school synergy and discussed potential cooperation on issues of shared concern.

On behalf of Fudan SoM, Dean Xiongwen Lu highlighted the strategic significance and overall planning of the Fudan Global MBA Program, demonstrating Fudan SoM's strategic vision to contribute Chinese wisdom to the global management community. He emphasized that internationalization has always been a core strategy of Fudan SoM, and extended an invitation to CoBS member schools to explore diversified and in-depth international cooperation.

Representatives from member schools also shared their practices in strategic development, teaching innovation, and social engagement.

A Milestone Moment: CoBS-Fudan Shanghai Office Officially Unveiled

During the Deans' Seminar, CoBS-Fudan Shanghai Office held its inauguration ceremony. Dean Xiongwen Lu of Fudan SoM and Dean Vincenzo Vinzi of ESSEC Business School, representing the  founding member school of CoBS, jointly unveiled the office.

Dean Xiongwen Lu stated that the establishment of CoBS-Fudan Shanghai Office reflects CoBS' growing influence in Asia and marks an important step in Fudan SoM's continued efforts to deepen strategic ties with CoBS member schools and expand collaborative initiatives.

The idea of establishing the CoBS-Fudan Shanghai Office was first proposed by Dean Xiongwen Lu at last year's CoBS Deans' Seminar and was successfully realized after multiple rounds of consultation. Its establishment marks the continued deepening of CoBS' presence in Asia. In the future, the CoBS-Fudan Shanghai Office, located at Fudan SoM, will provide a dedicated venue for faculty and students from CoBS member schools to carry out learning and exchange activities at Fudan SoM, while also supporting member schools in further strengthening connections and deepening cooperation.

Global Business School Leaders and Students Visit a Hub of Humanoid Robotics Innovation in China

That afternoon, the participating deans and representatives, together with more than 40 students from CoBS member schools taking part in Fudan SoM's CoBS Intensive Week, visited the Shanghai Humanoid Robot Innovation Incubator at Caohejing Hi-Tech Park. The delegation visited a frontier sci-tech innovation platform, gained a systematic understanding of the development trajectory, the current state of technology implementation, and prospects of China's humanoid robotics industry, and experienced firsthand the achievements of China's sci-tech innovation. Bing Wang, Chairman of the Incubator, received the delegation and delivered a keynote presentation, introducing the platform's business layout, the development of the humanoid robot industry, and his own entrepreneurial journey. His presentation sparked lively exchanges and interaction among the participants.

Frontier Roundtable: In the Age of AI, Are We Teaching the Future or the Past?

That evening, the CoBS Global Alumni Event was held at the Zhengli Campus of Fudan SoM, bringing together more than 100 alumni from CoBS member schools.

The Dean's Roundtable, themed "Are We Teaching the Future or the Past? Rethinking Business Education in the Age of AI," was moderated by Concepción Galdón, Associate Dean of IE Business School. Roundtable speakers included Tales Andreassi, Deputy Dean of FGV EAESP; Andy Lockett, Dean of Warwick Business School; Vincenzo Vinzi, Dean of ESSEC Business School; Simon Wilkie, Dean of Monash Business School; and Dean-Elect Fuqiang Zhang of Fudan University School of Management. The speakers engaged in in-depth discussions on the transformations and challenges facing business education amid the wave of AI, offering forward-looking insights for the innovation of global business education.

The CoBS Deans' Seminar, hosted by Fudan SoM for the first time, represents a key initiative in Fudan SoM's efforts to deepen its international strategic layout. The Seminar created a high-quality platform for exchange, enabling member schools to conduct strategic dialogue, share educational practices, and expand opportunities for international collaboration. By bringing global business school leaders together in Shanghai, the seminar effectively strengthened inter-school connections and injected new momentum into the alliance's efforts to advance resource sharing, mutual learning, and responsible leadership education.

As one of the founding members of CoBS, Fudan SoM will remain deeply engaged in the development and operation of the alliance. Drawing on the newly established CoBS-Fudan Shanghai Office, Fudan SoM will provide comprehensive support for member schools' study visits and learning programs in China, academic seminars, and project implementation, while continuing to promote collaborative innovation and win-win development in global business education.

About CoBS

Founded in June 2011, the Council on Business & Society (CoBS) was jointly launched by five internationally renowned business schools, including Fudan University School of Management. The alliance is dedicated to advancing teaching, research, and knowledge dissemination at the intersection of business, society, and the sustainable development of the planet. Today, CoBS has 12 member schools, with a network spanning six continents, 16 countries, and 23 campuses of world-class business schools. Member schools jointly develop educational content and courses, organize cross-school student competitions and international activities, conduct research collaboration, and explore responsible business and management education together. They also disseminate research findings and practical insights through alliance publications such as Global Voice. CoBS holds one Deans' Seminar each year, hosted by member schools on a voluntary, rotating basis.

CoBS official website: https://www.council-business-society.org/