The 8th International Business School Shanghai Conference (IBSSC), with the theme of “Leading in a Turbulent World”, was successfully held at Antai College of Economics and Management from October 21 to 23, 2020.

“This year we must adopt the hybrid format. Thanks to your continuing support and the numerous contributions from business gains from around the world”, said Dean Fangruo Chen in his opening speech, “Despite the impact of the Covid-19, the biennial IBSSC receives a lot of attention and expectations from the international management education”. The conference brought about 200 deans from business schools within China while about 150 deans from business school and international organizations outside China participate the conference through online engagement, featuring more than 30 countries worldwide, to share their views on how business educators lead in the environment of uncertainty and turbulence.

The conference invited 25 speakers online & offline from prominent business schools worldwide, representing 14 countries and 10 time zones. Prof. Geoffrey Garrett, Dean of Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, Prof. Raghu Sundaram, Dean of Stern School of Business, New York University, Prof. BAI Chong-En, Dean of School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University, Prof. Andrew K. Rose, Dean of NUS Business School, National University of Singapore, Prof. Santiago Iñiguez, President of IE University, and Prof. CHEN Fangruo, Dean of Antai College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University made their keynote speeches at the conference, shedding light on the theme from academic, industry and social perspectives. Dean Fanruo Chen shared his insight: “Frist, We should stay connected and it is imperative for us to maintain an outward mentality. Second, global commerce will continue to be an important part of our common future. Despite all the talks that have put globalization in the spotlight and the forces that argue against it, the underlying desire for productivity gains and higher living standards will never change. Third, business schools are supposed to contribute to the connecting and open world.”

In each parallel sessions, the conference touched on topics including “Preparing Business Leaders for a Turbulent World”, “Business Schools Partnership for a Turbulent World”, “Transnational Business Education and Economic Globalization”, and “Business School and Sustainability Education”.

This conference also launched a joint declaration sharing values in globalization and international partnerships of business schools. Antai College of Economics and Management, collaborating with the higher education community around the world, aims to advance gobal businss cooperation and economic integration for the purpose of enhancing the welfare of global community. By Oct. 23, 197 business school worldwide had endorsed this declaration in recognition and support of the stated values.

Since its inauguration in 2006, the International Business School Shanghai Conference (IBSSC), hosted by the Antai College of Economics and Management has evolved into the largest deans conference for business schools in the Asia-Pacific region, one of the top influential and international business school conferences worldwide, and one of the most prominent international conference brands of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.