From November 27 to 29, 2013, the annual Asia Pacific Conference for Deans and Directors of Association of MBAs (AMBA), with the theme of “globalization of business schools: strategy and view” was held in Hangzhou, China, in conjunction with School of Management, Zhejiang University. Renowned leaders of management schools, directors of MBA/EMBA programs and the AMBA’s accreditation experts were gathered at the banks of the beautiful West Lake, to discuss the development strategies and progress of business schools in the Asia-Pacific region, and map out its future growth.

More than100 experts and scholars attended the meeting, including: Sir Paul Judge, president of the AMBA; Mr. Andrew Main Wilson,CEO of the AMBA; Dr. Li Jun, director of China Academic Degrees & Graduate Education Development Center, Ministry of Education; Prof. Song Yonghua, managing vice president of Zhejiang University; Prof. ZhongmingWang, the AMBA’s International Advisory China; Prof. Wu Xiaobo, dean of School of Management, Zhejiang University; Prof. Zhou Lin, dean of Antai College of Economics & Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; and Ronald Tuninga, dean of Denmark’s AVT Business School.

Prof. Xie Danyang, dean of the Economics and Management School, Wuhan University was invited by the AMBA to attend the meeting. He introduced the status of our school’s EMBA program and innovative course design, and received the guests’ praise and recognition. During the conference, Dean Xie also exchanged opinions with Sir Paul Judge, Mr. Andrew Wilson, Prof. Andrew Lock, ex-dean of Business School, University of Leeds, Prof. Zhongming Wang, as well as other AMBA officials and business school leaders attending the conference, about the future trends and challenges facing business schools.

AMBA is one of the three authoritative accreditation organizations for business schools, with over 200 accredited business schools in over 70 countries. The continental conferences of business school leaders are an important activity of AMBA, held annually in accredited member school, themed around the important trends and prospects of business schools in the region, and providing a great opportunity for communication between business schools. Our school’s MBA and EMBA programs have received AMBA’s accreditation since December, 2010, being the fourth business school in China mainland, and the first in Central China to receive their recognition. In October, 2012, due to our integration of Wuhan University’s strength in humanities into our EMBA program, the program was nominated by the AMBA for its “innovation award”, becoming the only Asian program in the running of this award. The program received the praise that it is “a great accomplishment, reflecting the school’s acute observation of market demands, and innovation and expansion of paths in management education.”