The Meiji University School of Commerce held a two-day International Symposium open to University staff, students and the general public, entitled “New Development of International Business Education” at Academy Hall, on 25th-26th November, 2011.
During the first day’s panel discussion, we were introduced to how Meiji University’s associated overseas colleges tackle particular cases in business education as well as each country’s situation in educational institutions. There then followed a discussion on the future possibilities of international business education with the goal of cultivating global human resources. This day was particularly aimed at students, and featured presentations by Prof. Tim Goydke from Hochschule Bremen University of Applied Science (Germany), Dr. Julian Gould-Williams from Cardiff University Cardiff Business School (UK), Ms. Laurence Lambert from ESC Rennes School of Business (France) and Prof. Helio Neto from Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado (Brazil). After each presentation, a member of the School of Commerce’s teaching faculty served as commentator to summarize the talk and provide insight into Japan’s and Meiji University’s approaches in comparison.
At the end of the symposium, the panelists answered questions from the students in the audience on topics such as issues arising from cultural differences and how each university tackled such problems. It was impressive to see the students make efforts to ask questions in English, since this was an international symposium.
The theme for the second day was “International Developments in Fashion Business Education”, and it featured keynote speeches by Junko Koshino and Richard Collasse, as well as a panel discussion featuring professors from pioneering institutions in the field of fashion business.
This day’s symposium opened with the Meiji University 130th Anniversary Commendation Ceremony. After some greetings from President Hiromi Naya and Executive Trustee of Meiji University Keiichiro Toya, the President presented the awards to three young academics for outstanding achievement in the field of social sciences. Following this, world-renowned Japanese fashion designer Junko Koshino spoke of her personal design sensibility in her keynote presentation, entitled “The Balance of Contrasting Beauty”. Next, Chanel Japan CEO Richard Collasse spoke of his brand’s concept and founder Coco Chanel’s philosophy in his talk, “Ultimate Luxury”.
Following this was the day’s main panel discussion, featuring Prof. Nelson Phillips from Imperial College Business School (UK), Monsieur Patrice de Place from Mod’Art Internationale (France), Prof. Yi Xiong Yang from Donghua University (China), Dr. Gachoucha Kretz from ISC Paris School of Management (France) and Ms. Kay McMahon from Queensland University of Technology (Australia), all of whom spoke on the subject of approaches to “Fashion Business Education”, as well as looking to the formation of networks surrounding the nucleus of fashion business.
Today, with an end to cultivating business leaders who will be active around the world, Meiji University’s School of Commerce is making many efforts to expand its global activities. We can say with confidence that as a result of this international symposium we have made significant progress in international academic dialogue with the associate schools, namely in the exchange of opinions regarding the state of international business education as well as international student exchange until now within the various universities. The School of Commerce is looking forward to realizing further developments in Fashion Business Education in the future.
Program of the International Symposium
