As the first of its kind on Chinese mainland, Fudan University is going to host the IFSAM 9th World Management Congress between 26 and 28 of July this year. It is also first time that such a multicultural international event will have been held in China.

IFSAM refers to International Federation of Scholarly Associations of Management. Started in 1992, the federation is composed of various management associations on behalf of 33 different countries, designated to foster the development of international scholarly activities and the understanding of management practices.

So far, the biennial world congress has been successfully held in 8 cities, including Tokyo, Paris, Madrid and Berlin.

It was in 2004 that Fudan University was chosen by IFSAM to host the 2008 world congress.

As part of Fudan’s preparations for the advent of congress, a news conference was held on March 18 in School of Management, announcing how the university is working to prepare for the upcoming event.

The press briefing publicized this year’s theme of congress, which is “Fusion and Development of East and West Management.”

Professor SU Dongshui, chief professor in Department of Industrial Economics in the school, will act the role of congress chair. He is founder of Oriental Management studies. He said at the press conference that: “As the largest-scaled management event to be held in China, the world congress of this year is set to play a fundamental role of boosting Chinese management education.

“Like what we are told by the theme, it emphasizes on ‘harmony,’ which is certain to help consolidate the co-existence and exchanges between Chinese and overseas management communities,” he said.

“Furthermore,” Professor SU added, “the congress will, to a great extent, help push forward the development and exchanges of Oriental Management studies, and build up Chinese-characterized management science.”

During the congress period, there will be three theme forums, 20 forum tracks, and MBA and Ph.D. forums.

Also, the 12th Oriental Management Forum will run parallel with the congress.

Nearly 500 scholars, entrepreneurs and governmental officials from around the world are set to attend the congress. Out of total, 22 professors from overseas universities and 22 domestic university leaders and professors will chair the forum tracks, ranging from management innovation, Chinese management, to human resources management and organizational behavior management, among others, on the list of track topics.

Professor LU Xiongwen, dean of the school, said on the press conference that: “The world management congress is equivalent of ‘Olympic Games’ in global management research field. I feel extremely honored that our school is entitled to host the event on behalf of Fudan University. We are looking forward to meeting with experts, professors and entrepreneurs from around the world, while at the same time opening a window to display the charming elements of Oriental Management studies.”