Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship(10)

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship

Last not but least, comparing other corporate scholarship programs, Fujitsu scholarship assignments seems much. I understand each company has different point of views on their scholarship policies as part of its CSR(Corporate Social Responsibility) activities. However, even requiring an additional assignment after students go back to their home country sounds not a reasonable idea. Once given, it could be better to leave the scholarship entirely in the hands of students. 

In spite of some shortfalls, in general, EWKLP and Fujitsu scholarship is well-organized enough to realize my goals which I dreamed back in Korea last year. Once again, I truly appreciate all JAIMS staff and Fujitsu personnel for letting me broaden global horizon and build up rich friendship. And I hope JAIMS and EWKLP will make more distinct presence in the international community soon.

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship(9)

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship

Looking back on, there are things which I hope to be improved or fixed in the near future. For example, I still can't fully understand why students have to submit a key learning report per each class. Some class lasted only 2 or 3 hours and contents were not clear as well. Under this circumstance, requiring a key learning report is asking too much. Students may have strong temptation of cooking up stories.

Additionally, a couple of outdoor activities such as visits to Swap Meet and Honolulu Zoo were way from expectation. Putting the title of a filed study in the shade, energy and vitality was rarely noticed on the sport as if reflecting gloomy economic situation in Hawaii.

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship(8)

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship

However, from the day one, we were just like long-time friends. And as time went by, this friendship grew more and more strengthened. What we shared most was class. We talked, discussed and presented almost all topics. However, at the same time, we played hard and enjoyed plentiful outdoor activities such as travelling, marathon, table tennis, surfing and swimming. 

In short, we were none other than a family. Thanks to precious friends, I carved enormous valuable memories deep in my heart. In some way, more than EWKLP curriculum itself, from the bottom of my heart, I appreciate spending 3 months with 19 wonderful and splendid friends.

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship(7)

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship

Secondly, I'd like to make special comments on friendship. In the individual page of the yearbook, I wrote down, "Let's keep our thicker-than-blood friendship for good!" Truly speaking, it is exactly what I felt from the 19 dear classmates. 

Each single student has different background. Some are from East Asia, some from Southeast Asia, one even from Europe. And their gender, age, types of work and interests are not identical.

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship(6)

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship

In this time of economic downturns when CEOs (Chief Executive Officer) seek more business opportunities from liberal arts, non-business curriculums made EWKLP classes richer and richer. Moreover, the fact that not all instructors are full-time professors rings a big bell to me. Some instructors are involved in real business practices such as consulting, leadership and legal industries. Also, some of the guests run their own business globally. 

In that even full-time MBA education pays more and more attention on real work experience these days, through non-academic instructors, delivering the hot issues of the outside world is remarkable merits of EWKLP. In doing so, not only EWKLP succeeded in differentiating itself from similar scholarship programs, but also students could balance between the 'Gemba' and textbook theories and models as a professor Ikujiro Nonaka pointed out during his class. These lessons approached me as something more global, timely and practical.

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship(5)

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship

Most of all, I want to give big applauds to diversity of instructors and subjects. Of course, it is true that majority instructors come from University of Hawaii. Taking the geographical characteristic of Hawaii into consideration, it is not something disappointing. In fact, class enjoyed quite a few instructors from different regions all over the world. From Switzerland, England, mainland America to Chinese, Japanese and South American backgrounds, faculty diversity gave the entire class a big hand to share different values and gain global perspectives. 

Just like the instructor profile, course work profile was also colorful. As a management institution, to some extent, business related subjects are mostly stressed over the whole curriculum inevitably. However, time to time, non-business subjects, to name a few, philosophy, anthropology, Buddhism and Confucianism, decently covered as well. 

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship(4)

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship

First of all, thanks to EWKLP program, my global horizon was amazingly broadened. Honestly specking, it was not my first time to go abroad. Since I joined the media industry, I have been to more than 20 countries on business trips even to South America and Scandinavian countries. However, it was the work which counted the most on business trips. 

In other words, I rarely had enough time to look around the place and taste the local atmosphere. As a result, most times, I made myself be just satisfied with only scratching the surface of the unfamiliar culture. But this time was a huge exception. Course works, group discussion and presentation, field studies, outdoor activities and travelling combined together, really worked to widen my global sights on various issues.

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship(3)

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship

Against this background, it is not an easy thing at all to find out proper words or expressions which best describes my 3 months stay in Hawaii. After nights of twist and toast, I finally came up with two ideas; Broadening Global Horizon & Building Up Rich Friendship. 

Needless to say, life at JAIMS and further in Hawaii was ‘Golden Period of My Lifetime’ mainly because I learned global perspective and met 19 gorgeous friends at the same time. And the expectation that I sincerely had deep in my heart back in Korea, dare to say, almost achieved during the past 3 months.

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship(2)

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship

In addition, EWKLP will serve a good chance to promote Korea to foreign friends. In spite of strong economic size and potentials, Korea is one of the undervalued countries in the global stage. Some business sectors such as semi-conductor, shipping and automobile industry, Korean companies are leading the world. By actively introducing Korean companies and their success stories to classes, I want to let EWKLP participants know more about Korea. 

At the same time, I will do my best to be more aware of neighboring countries. These may create new business opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region after EWKLP students go back to their home. Amongst the participant countries, it is also anticipated that improved image on Korea will enhance nation-level relationship. 

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship(1)

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship

Before coming to Hawaii, in my application forms to JAIMS(Japan-America Institute of Management Science), rough expectation on EWKLP(East-West Knowledge Leaders Program) went like this: EWKLP will be of great significance to me. By studying various subjects of business, I can not only deepen my knowledge but also harmonize my experience, as a journalist, with theory. That could explain why lessons from EWKLP will lead me to make more profound articles on business practices. 

I have little doubt that 3 months in Hawaii will absolutely help me realize my lifetime goal, contributing myself to my country. In this time of financial crisis, insightful articles can make people happy. It can change the world, too. State-of-the-art business cases will also give new ideas to business leaders in Korea with whom I have had firm relationship. Interviews with CEOs and corporate management convinced me that they are dying for new and practical business principles.

Improving the Quality of MBA Education in Korea, Japan and China(12)

Improving the Quality of MBA Education in Korea, Japan and China - Integrating East & West

Starting Korea, our first action plan is to underscore the importance of Eastern-Western value integrated MBA education in the academic and corporate sector by all means. Then, we will propose the new MBA education model to schools, companies, Ministry of Education of each country and contact companies to join the new MBA curriculum launch and support the schools at the same time. 

Throughout all these efforts, if students will have more skills, expertise to increase productivity and will be more rounded globally and companies will also have greater competitive advantages, we can dare to say our model for innovation, the brand-new MBA education model, succeeds in adding values to the stakeholders of MBA education in Korea, Japan and China.

Improving the Quality of MBA Education in Korea, Japan and China(11)

Improving the Quality of MBA Education in Korea, Japan and China - Integrating East & West

If ideas suggested above come true, enormous synergy effects can be anticipated. Shown as a spiral in the SECI model, stakeholders of MBA education, students, schools and companies will be surely satisfied with the brand-new MBA education model. By exchanging human talent, financial support and further developing co-project and consulting, model for innovation will pave the new way for the future of MBA education in Korea, Japan and China. 

Against this background, it will not be a wishful thinking anymore for Asian MBA schools to list their names on the top of the global MBA rankings. For that, we will not just sit idle. No matter how difficult it would be, we are going to try our best to realize our suggestions in all three countries.

Improving the Quality of MBA Education in Korea, Japan and China(10)

Improving the Quality of MBA Education in Korea, Japan and China - Integrating East & West

In this regard, MBA schools should listen to corporate voices and be ready to adapt to changes. Master of Business and Engineering Program of Steinbeis University in Germany can be a good role model for Asian MBA schools. 

At Steinbeis University, students are admitted to school upon the corporate requests and sponsoring companies pay the student’s tuition in return for comprehensive study on specific projects of importance to them. As a result, after a one year intense curriculum and additional focus on the above specific projects, the student would return to the company armed with practical knowledge especially on those targeted projects.

Improving the Quality of MBA Education in Korea, Japan and China(9)

Improving the Quality of MBA Education in Korea, Japan and China - Integrating East & West

In that Korea, Japan and China is located close to each other, MBA schools in three countries have great advantage to provide comprehensive curriculum.

In this sense, BESETO program, a North-East Asian university belt for strengthening relationship among Beijing (Peking) University, Seoul National University and Tokyo National University, is required to be more activated. Nobody will dispute that MBA schools primarily exist for practical education.