On October 19, 2026, the 2026 Pre-PIM Conference was held at the Zhengli Campus of the School of Management at Fudan University. The Pre-PIM is an important event held ahead of PIM conference, providing member schools with a platform to share practices, exchange views, and explore opportunities for collaboration.

Hosted by the School of Management at Fudan University, the Conference brought together 38 representatives from 22 business schools across 18 countries and regions at the Zhengli Campus. They engaged in exchanges on topics such as international student mobility in the AI era, innovations in business education, and global cooperation, jointly exploring new opportunities for international collaboration in business education. Fuqiang Zhang, Dean and Li Dasan Chair Professor of School of Management at Fudan University, attended the conference and held talks with Professor Lin Zhou, Dean of the CUHK Business School, which will host 2026 PIM Conference.

Pooling Global Wisdom: Deepening International Collaboration in Business Education

On the morning of the event, the participants toured the Zhengli Campus of the School of Management at Fudan University, learning about the planning philosophy and spatial layout of the campus as an open educational–commercial complex, as well as the School's efforts to integrate educational resources, deepen the integration of industry and education, and foster collaborative development.

In his welcome address, Dean Zhang extended a welcome to the representatives from business schools around the world. He introduced the School's development history, distinctive features, and future strategy, with a particular focus on the newly launched Fudan Global MBA program, explaining the School's recent efforts to develop innovative models for international talent development and expand global cooperation in business education.

Dean Zhang noted that the School of Management at Fudan University officially joined the Partnership in International Management (PIM) network in 2007, and has actively contributed to its development for nearly two decades, cooperating with member institutions worldwide on student exchanges and other initiatives. Against the backdrop of a changing global industrial and economic landscape, business education faces new opportunities as well as practical challenges in talent development and cross-border cooperation. He expressed the hope that member institutions would further strengthen exchanges, jointly advance business innovation, develop globally minded management talent, and explore more resilient models of international cooperation.

Focusing on AI Strategy: Driving the Transformation of Business Education through Technological Innovation

During the thematic presentation session, Professor Cheng Zhang, Assistant Dean of the School of Management at Fudan University and Chair of the Department of Information Management and Business Intelligence, outlined the School's AI strategy, sharing its explorations and achievements in AI-empowered teaching, research, and administrative operations.

He pointed out that AI is not only a tool for improving efficiency, but also an important force driving the systematic transformation of business schools. The School of Management at Fudan University has accumulated rich experience in AI applications, and will continue to deepen the integration of artificial intelligence with business education, advance innovation in teaching, research, and management, and actively explore new paths for the development of management education in the AI era.

Sparking Ideas: Jointly Exploring New Trends in International Student Mobility in the AI Era

The conference's thematic workshop, titled "International Student Mobility in the AI Era," explored the opportunities and challenges that artificial intelligence development brings to student mobility. Participants shared their experiences in applying AI in teaching and student services, analyzed the differences in application arising from regional contexts, and exchanged institutional response strategies.

On the Front Lines of Technological Innovation: Visiting a Leading Chinese Company in Embodied Intelligence

In the afternoon, participants visited AGIBOT Innovation (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd., to learn firsthand about technological innovation and industrial development in the fields of artificial intelligence and embodied intelligence in China.

This visit brought the discussions of business education into a real-world innovation setting, giving representatives from business schools worldwide an opportunity to learn about the developments in China's embodied-intelligence industry and to reflect on the impact of emerging technologies on future management practice and talent development.

Deepening Global Partnerships and Exploring New Opportunities in International Business Education

Participants said they were impressed by Fudan SoM's efforts to internationalize its programs and integrate AI into business education. During their visit to Shanghai, they experienced China's rich historical and cultural heritage and saw firsthand how cutting-edge technologies are being applied, gaining a vivid sense of the strong momentum of innovation in China, particularly in Shanghai.

Internationalization is one of Fudan SoM's core development strategies. Hosting the 2026 Pre-PIM Conference is an important step in the School's efforts to advance its internationalization strategy and actively engage in global exchange and collaboration in business education. Looking ahead, the School will continue to leverage international cooperation networks such as PIM, to strengthen ties with partner institutions worldwide, expand multi-level and innovative international cooperation, and advance international talent development and innovation in business education.

2026 PIM Conference will be held at CUHK Business School from October 21 to 23, 2026.

About PIM

Partnership in International Management (PIM) was founded in 1973 as an international cooperation network composed of the world’s leading business schools, dedicated to promoting international student exchange, sharing experience, and fostering collaboration among member schools. Currently, PIM has over 60 member schools, with a network spanning six continents and 39 countries and regions, providing an important platform for global business schools to engage in international exchange and colllaboration.

PIM Website: https://pimnetwork.org/