

Elevate: Asia Pacific
Explore key business education trends
Agenda Timezone:
Agenda:
Agenda Timezone:
SST
Singapore Standard Time
Tuesday
November 18
8:30 AM - 12:15 PM SST
Exhibitor Showcase
Connect with peers, meet exhibitors, and explore fresh ideas in the Exhibitor Showcase, a space designed to help you build relationships, discover new solutions, and make the most of your time at the conference.
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM SST
Refreshments and Networking
Begin your day by networking over coffee. This is an excellent opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, make new connections, and discuss the sessions ahead.
9:00 AM - 9:50 AM SST
Asia Pacific Regional Network Meeting
Session Details Coming Soon! This session is open to all attendees regardless of membership status.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM SST
Conference Welcome & Keynote I: Radical Reimagination of Education in the Age of AI
As AI transforms the way we learn, teach, and operate, business schools are being called to fundamentally rethink their roles. This keynote will explore how intelligent technologies are reshaping the learner’s future, redefining the meaning of learning, and transforming traditional models of higher education. This session presents challenges for continuous curricular relevance in the evolving landscape and sets the stage for bold conversations about what it means to educate in an era defined by disruption, innovation, unpredictability, and rapid technological change.
Julia Chen
Director, Educational Development Centre
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Sponsored by
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM SST
(A1) From Strategy to Systems: Leading AI Transformation
How are business schools embedding AI into their institutional DNA? Speakers will share AI strategies that go beyond individual tools - shaping hiring policies, curriculum architecture, research priorities, and ethics frameworks. Learn from real-world examples across Asia Pacific on institutional change management in an era of intelligent systems.
Robert McClelland
Dean, The Business School
College of Business and Law
RMIT University
Suku Sukunesan
Associate Dean (Strategic Partnerships)
School of Business and Law
Edith Cowan University
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM SST
(A2) The AI Toolkit: Reskilling Faculty for a New Era
Discover practical approaches for equipping faculty with skills, tools, and confidence to integrate AI into teaching and research. Learn from institutions investing in training, experimentation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Prabhat Kumar Pankaj
Director
Jaipuria Institute of Management
Jaipuria Institute of Management (Lucknow, Noida, Jaipur, Indore)
Suresh Cuganesan
Deputy Dean (Students and External Partnerships)
The University of Sydney Business School
The University of Sydney
1:15 PM - 5:00 PM SST
Exhibitor Showcase
Connect with peers, meet exhibitors, and explore fresh ideas in the Exhibitor Showcase, a space designed to help you build relationships, discover new solutions, and make the most of your time at the conference.
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM SST
Advancing Research Impact: Findings from the Research Impact Task Force
Building on the themes of the Research Impact Task Force’s exposure draft framework, this session explores how business schools can demonstrate that their research makes a difference—beyond publications and rankings.
Eileen McAuliffe
Executive Vice President, Chief Thought Leadership Officer and EMEA
´óÏó´«Ã½ International
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM SST
(B1) Showcases of Impact
Hear case studies from business schools that have achieved measurable non-academic impact - from influencing policy and industry practices to driving community change. Gain insights on how to tell compelling impact stories.
Esterina Nervino
Assistant Professor
College of Business
City University of Hong Kong
Jane Lu
Chair Professor
College of Business
City University of Hong Kong
Suthep Nimasi
Assisstant Professor
College of Management, Mahidol University
Yudo Anggoro
Dr
School of Business and Management
Institut Teknologi Bandung
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM SST
(B2) Measuring the Societal Impact of B-Schools
How do we know if we’re making a difference? This session presents models and tools for assessing a business school’s societal value—from alumni impact metrics to community-engaged research frameworks. Hear from institutions pioneering new ways to evaluate and amplify their contribution to the common good.
Natt Pimpa
Chair in Managing for Sustainability/Assistant Dean, Sustainability
College of Management, Mahidol University
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM SST
Building Resiliency in Uncertain Times
Geopolitical shifts, economic pressures, and changing learner expectations are reshaping global mobility. This session explores how institutions are responding to policy changes, visa challenges, and shifting demographics. Gain insights into sustaining strategic international partnerships under resource limitations, fostering global competencies when physical travel is restricted, and reimagining internationalization to buffer against regional disruptions. Discover innovative approaches to global engagement that enhance institutional resilience and ensure long-term stability in an unpredictable environment.
Shu Schiller
Dean
Ed G. Smith College of Business
University of Missouri-St. Louis
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM SST
Networking Dinner
Relax and enjoy the company of your colleagues. This reception is the perfect opportunity to unwind and continue the day’s discussions in a more informal setting.
Wednesday
November 19
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM SST
Breakfast & Networking
Begin the final day with networking over breakfast. Reflect on the insights gained and prepare for the final sessions.
8:30 AM - 12:00 PM SST
Exhibitor Showcase
Connect with peers, meet exhibitors, and explore fresh ideas in the Exhibitor Showcase, a space designed to help you build relationships, discover new solutions, and make the most of your time at the conference.
8:45 AM - 9:30 AM SST
Accreditation Q&A
Whether you have an upcoming Initial Accreditation visit, Continuous Improvement Review visit, or are considering accreditation, this session is for you! We invite you to bring questions related to the initial accreditation and continuing improvement review processes as we discuss what is expected and how to thoroughly prepare.
8:45 AM - 9:30 AM SST
Redefining Learner Success through Responsible Management Education
As the business education landscape evolves, responsible management has moved from a niche concept to a core driver of learner success. This interactive session explores how business schools across the Asia Pacific region are embedding responsibility and purpose into teaching and learning. Join this dynamic conversation on how ´óÏó´«Ã½â€™s Standards of Learner Success and PRME pedagogy tools intersect to shape learners for the future. Hear examples of innovations in teaching and student development that redefine what it means to educate for impact.
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM SST
Keynote II: Bridging the Readiness Gap: What Employers Want, What Graduates Need
Explore the alignment (and gaps) between employer expectations and graduate readiness. This session explores emerging skill gaps, fast-changing industry demands, and the disconnects that can exist between academic preparation and workplace realities. Hear insights on how business schools can better equip graduates with the mindsets, capabilities, and adaptability needed to thrive in today’s dynamic and uncertain job market.
Dviwesh Mehta
Director
Harvard Business Impact
Lily Bi
President and CEO
´óÏó´«Ã½ International
Ross James
Dean (Academic Governance)
UC Business School
University of Canterbury
Xiongwen Lu
Member of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Board of Directors
Dean, School of Management
School of Management
Fudan University
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM SST
(C1) SDGs 2030: From Aspirations to Urgency
With 2030 fast approaching, schools must move beyond rhetoric to deliver measurable SDG impact. This session showcases bold initiatives embedding the SDGs into curricula, partnerships, and institutional strategy. Learn how leading institutions are accelerating action, tracking impact, and preparing graduates to lead in a sustainability-driven economy.
Qian Shi
Executive Dean of the School of Economics and Management
School of Economics and Management
Tongji University
Weng Marc Lim
Distinguished Professor and Dean, Sunway Business School
Sunway Business School
Sunway University
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM SST
(C2) Building Entrepreneurial and Innovation Ecosystems
How are business schools becoming incubators of innovation? Explore how institutions across Asia Pacific are partnering with startups, corporations, and policy makers to nurture entrepreneurial mindsets and regional innovation. This session highlights ecosystem-building strategies, from accelerators to venture funds, and how schools can lead inclusive growth.
Joseph Cherian
CEO, President and Dean of ASB
Asia School of Business
1:00 PM - 4:40 PM SST
Exhibitor Showcase
Connect with peers, meet exhibitors, and explore fresh ideas in the Exhibitor Showcase, a space designed to help you build relationships, discover new solutions, and make the most of your time at the conference.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM SST
From Your Voice to Our Vision: The Future of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Standards
As ´óÏó´«Ã½ prepares for the 2026 refresh of its business and accounting accreditation standards, it has launched a global listening tour to gather members’ feedback and understand current priorities. This presentation features key leaders who will share emerging themes and stakeholder insights from around the world, with attendees gaining early visibility into potential refinements.
Lily Bi
President and CEO
´óÏó´«Ã½ International
Ross James
Dean (Academic Governance)
UC Business School
University of Canterbury
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM SST
Innovations in Teaching and Learning
Business schools are reimagining how knowledge is created, shared, and applied. From immersive experiential learning opportunities to radical new approaches in program structures, faculty and administrators are pushing the boundaries of traditional teaching and learning.
Mahadeo Prasad Jaiswal
Director
Indian Institute of Management Sambalpur
Xiaobing Song
Associate Dean
School of Economics and Management
Dalian University of Technology
3:45 PM - 4:30 PM SST
Doing More with Less: Financial Strategies for Business Schools
In an era marked by budget constraints and demographic shifts, business school leaders are under pressure to deliver quality outcomes with limited resources. This session will explore practical, forward-thinking strategies for navigating financial challenges without compromising institutional mission or academic excellence. Speakers will share how they have streamlined operations, prioritized spending, and reimagined resource allocation to sustain impact.