2025 Global Business Education Expo Press Conference Held at Fudan SoM
On October 23, the press conference for 2025 Global Business Education Expo was held at the Zhengli Campus of School of Management at Fudan University (Fudan SoM). Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the re-establishment of Fudan SoM, deans and representatives from leading business schools worldwide, together with nearly 50 domestic and international media outlets, including Xinhua News Agency, Jiefang Daily, Reuters, and Lianhe Zaobao, gathered on site to review the achievements of international exchange and to look ahead to emerging trends in global business education.

Attendees at the press conference included Xiongwen Lu, Dean of the School of Management at Fudan University; Markus Baer, Associate Dean for Executive Education at Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis; Léon Laulusa, Executive President and Dean of ESCP Business School; Danny Bielik, President of the Digital Education Council; Gary Dushnitsky, Deputy Dean of London Business School; Martin Edwards, Deputy Dean of the Business School at the University of Queensland; Lily Bi, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB); Hugues Levecq, Deputy Dean of the Africa Campus of ESSEC Business School; Julia von Maltzan Pacheco, Deputy Dean of São Paulo School of Business Administration; Lynnette Purda, Dean of Smith School of Business at Queen's University; Bendik Samuelsen, Provost for Education at BI Norwegian Business School; and Sabrina White, Board Member of the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), among other distinguished guests.
Prior to the start of the press conference, journalists toured the exhibition area of the Global Business Education Expo, gaining an early glance at its highlights and experiencing firsthand the collaboration and exchange between Fudan SoM and leading global business schools in teaching innovation, academic research, and talent development.
Dean Xiongwen Lu noted that this year marks both the 120th anniversary of Fudan University and the 40th anniversary of the re-establishment of Fudan SoM. He emphasized that the School's achievements are rooted not only in its deep historical foundations but also in its long-standing commitment to a global strategy. Since the 1990s, Fudan SoM has continuously engaged in exchange and cooperation with outstanding business schools worldwide, accumulating extensive experience in cultivating management talent with a global perspective. In the face of technological innovation, industrial transformation, and uncertainty in the global landscape, Dean Lu stressed that business schools must adopt an open mindset to nurture future-oriented leaders, while jointly addressing shared challenges through international collaboration.

Lily Bi, President and Chief Executive Officer of AACSB, remarked that the 40th anniversary of the re-establishment of Fudan SoM represents an important milestone. On behalf of nearly 1,000 AACSB-accredited institutions and 2,000 member organizations worldwide, she extended her sincere congratulations on the School's accomplishments.

Bendik Samuelsen, Provost for Education at BI Norwegian Business School, observed that the world is facing challenges such as de-globalization trends, climate change, and regional conflicts, and that sustainable development depends critically on cross-border and cross-institutional collaboration. He noted that cooperation among business schools can foster new global consensus and promote deeper exchange and co-creation.

Hugues Levecq, Deputy Dean of the Africa Campus of ESSEC Business School, pointed out that Africa is emerging as an increasingly significant force in the globalization process. With its young and rapidly growing population, the continent holds vast potential for future development. He called for building more bridges of communication and cooperation within global education and economic systems, so that the vision of globalization becomes more open, diverse, and human-centered.

Lynnette Purda, Dean of the Smith School of Business at Queen's University, shared her institution's experience in internationalization. She emphasized that a truly global perspective requires cross-cultural learning and immersion, and that students should step beyond the classroom to engage deeply with different societies and economies. She highlighted the crucial role of China and Asia in this process and expressed her expectation to work with more partners to create richer international learning and experiential opportunities for students.

During the media Q & A session, journalists from domestic and international outlets including Business News, Businessweek, Guangzhou Daily, and Reuters raised questions on topics such as future-oriented innovation and responsibility in management education, the impact of AI technologies on business education models and talent cultivation, the global value of Chinese management education, and prospects for international cooperation.
Dean Xiongwen Lu and international guests shared their perspectives on how management education innovation can respond to transformational change, and how Chinese experience and insights can be more effectively presented within the global business education ecosystem.
