From April 7th to 14th 2025, a delegation led by Dean Yang Zhi and Assistant Dean Hu Peng of School of Management (SOM) attended the AACSB 2025 Global Conference in Austria and visited to the United States and Hong Kong for obtaining in-depth insights into the global management education and expanding worldwide collaborations.
The delegation participated in the AACSB 2025 Global Members Conference in Austria from April 7th to April 9th . Yang Zhi represented the SOM to receive the re-accreditation certificate during the AACSB Accreditation Achievement Recognition Ceremony. The delegation also met with Stephanie Bryant, Executive Vice President and Chief Accreditation Officer of AACSB, and Xu Guodong, Head of AACSB East Asia and highlighted the school’s commitment to global excellence in business education.
Photo with AACSB Executive Vice President and Chief Accreditation Officer Stephanie Bryant
Gies College of Business, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
To expand global influence and partnerships in business and management education, Yang Zhi signed collaborative agreements for Dual-Degree Master Program and 4+1 program with Gies College of Business, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) on April 11st. Yang Zhi and Hu Peng also had an in-depth discussion on potential collaborations of Student Exchange Programs and Joint Summer School Initiatives with Brooke Elliott, Dean of Gies College of Business.
Dean Yang Zhi's delegation visits Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Faculty of Business(FB) , Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)
During the visit to Poly U, the delegation conducted promising dialogues with Professor Cheng Dazhao, Dean of FB of PolyU, Professor Xu Xin, Associate Dean of FB of PolyU and other relevant representatives. During the dialogues, Yang Zhi Proposed to build the mutual partnerships on various aspects, such as DBA program, short-term and co-establishment of Research Center and Laboratory. To formalize the partnerships, the two sides will prepare for a signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in near future. This meeting further optimized the future collaboration between the two schools and opened up for more potential partnership opportunities.
Dean Yang Zhi's delegation visits Faculty of Business at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
The whole visiting has significantly strengthened collaborative networks with international accreditation bodies and world prestige business
schools, which injects new momentum into SOM mission to establish the School as a world-renowned business school.
Background Information
About AACSB
AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), along with EQUIS (EFMD Quality Improvement System) and AMBA (Association of MBAs), constitutes the "Triple Crown" of international business school accreditation. The School of Management first obtained AACSB accreditation in February 2020 with a 5-year term, and successfully secured a 6-year re-accreditation extension in February 2025.
About University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
UIUC is a public research university and a founding member of both the Big Ten Conference and the Association of American Universities (AAU). Recognized as a "Public Ivy," it ranks #33 in the 2025 U.S. News National University Rankings. Its Gies College of Business ranks #14 among U.S. undergraduate business programs.
About The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)
PolyU is a public comprehensive research university and member of multiple prestigious alliances including:University Alliance of the Silk Road, Beijing-Hong Kong Universities Alliance, Global Initiative of Clinton Foundation and International Astronautical Federation. It ranked No.67 in the 2025 U.S. News Global Best Universities. PolyU Business School holds dual accreditation from both AACSB and EQUIS.
