Defying politics: how China’s business schools are innovating to keep talent pipeline open

Defying global geopolitical currents, China’s business schools are actively resisting the mounting risks of decoupling from the West, according to a leading accreditation body. Instead of retreating into isolation amid rising US-China tensions, Chinese institutions remained deeply committed to internationalisation as they prioritised global talent and diverse cultural backgrounds to boost their competitive edge. “No [Chinese business] school that I visited expressed resistance to international talent; instead, they actively highlight diverse cultural backgrounds to enhance global competitiveness,” said Lily Bi, president and chief executive officer of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). “Chinese schools are ambitiously bridging East and West – that’s a beautiful thing, with many boasting faculties where 45 per cent or more hold PhDs from overseas,” Bi told the South China Morning Post after visiting several accredited business schools in Shanghai and Beijing earlier this month. Founded in 1916, the AACSB is a US-based organisation with regional offices in Asia and Europe that certifies business schools. Core standards encompass leadership and resources, teaching and learning quality, academic research impact and societal influence. It represents more than 2,000 institutions in over 100 countries. Tsinghua University’s School of Economics and Management was the first in China to achieve full accreditation in 2007, having joined as a member in 2002. Today, China has 52 AACSB-accredited business schools – second only to the United States, which has more than 500. At least 40 additional Chinese institutions are in the accreditation pipeline, underscoring sustained demand for international validation. China’s ascent in business education began picking up speed in the early 2000s. Propelled by the nation’s entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001 and a strategic push to modernise its economy, the government invested heavily in higher education to cultivate globally competitive talent. The era saw the establishment and expansion of business programmes tailored to support China’s integration into international markets and the expansion of companies overseas, fostering a cadre of managers equipped for multinational operations. “Chinese people are hard-working, ambitious and innovative,” Bi said. “Every school I visited aspires to be world-class.” The schools benefit from robust government support – in sharp contrast to global trends. During a recent meeting with China’s education ministry, officials pledged increased resources and greater institutional autonomy, she said. This comes as Western institutions face funding cuts and regulatory caps on tuition hikes that have not adjusted for inflation in up to a decade in some countries. In recent years, visa restrictions and geopolitical tensions have tightened borders for international students, prompting higher education institutions – including business schools – to rethink traditional mobility models. Speaking after a series of global engagements over the past month, Bi said that restrictions were no longer isolated to one nation but now spanned several countries in Europe and North America. In the Netherlands, for instance, housing shortages have led authorities to cap student inflows. In other countries, international students have been increasingly conflated with broader immigration concerns, despite their distinct status. Countries group international students together with immigrants, “even though visa rejection was historically about intent to stay, not enrolment”, she said. This shift, she argued, overlooked the economic and cultural value students brought, including full tuition payments, diverse perspectives and cross-cultural exchanges that also enrich domestic peers. In the US, Chinese student enrolment peaked at 370,000 in 2019 but has since fallen by about 25 per cent to around 270,000, affecting universities broadly. But while overall international enrolment has declined, business programmes have generally appeared more resilient. The trend signals a need for adaptation, according to Bi. “You have to diversify,” she warned. “Enhance domestic recruitment, yes – but also find new ways to maintain global engagement.” Many US institutions are already heeding the call, ensuring continuous collaboration even when physical mobility is constrained. To deliver AACSB accredited programmes in-country, they operate satellite campuses in China while others are expanding existing partnerships with local Chinese universities. A broader shift is emerging: from moving people to moving ideas. “It used to be you move one person from one country to another,” she said. “Now, without that, you can still share ideas,” Bi said, adding that digital platforms, joint research initiatives and virtual exchanges were gaining traction. In recent years, deans from the US, European and Chinese universities have explored dual-degree models, faculty swaps and co-developed curricula – all designed to transcend visa barriers. These efforts preserve intellectual exchanges and institutional reputations while navigating political headwinds. Business schools are proving remarkably adaptive. “The desire for global engagement is still very strong,” Bi said, adding that “they just need to be creative”. She described education as a cornerstone of national strength. “Everything starts from education. Building walls around students is not smart. Talent exchange benefits everyone,” she said. While advocating for open policy, she said institutions would not just wait for the change. “They will innovate around it, ensuring that global business education remains connected, relevant and resilient.” In China, in addition to government funding, alumni donations have surged, corporate partnerships have expanded, and lifelong learning programmes with companies have provided new revenue streams. The resilience has positioned China’s business schools favourably amid global headwinds, according to Bi. After speaking with several deans, Bi said that Chinese schools remained focused on globalisation, preparing students for a borderless business landscape while addressing local needs at state, provincial and city levels. “There is some concern about the direction we are travelling, but I still have hope for globalisation. Globalisation is beyond free trade. You cannot simply kill it,” she said, adding that the intertwined supply chains were evidence of irreversible interconnectedness. Chinese business schools, which already have many partnerships, had a “strong desire” to collaborate with different parts of the world, communicate with peers, and attract and retain talent in a bid to provide quality teaching services and research output, Bi said. Chinese schools are experimenting with models that integrate global standards with China-specific priorities, such as industry-focused curriculums. Traditional discipline silos – such as accounting, marketing and finance – are being blurred in favour of interdisciplinary, problem-oriented approaches centred on real-world industries. One pioneering model requires every faculty member to link their expertise to at least one industry, which requires mandatory company visits. This ensures research starts with actual business challenges – not abstract theories – to make education more relevant. AI integration is ubiquitous and strategic. “It’s not an option – it’s a strategic imperative,” Bi said. Schools treat artificial intelligence (AI) in at least two ways: as a teachable technology – the easier part, with widespread adoption; and as a tool for enhancing operations and learning. From beginner-level implementations to advanced applications, the majority have embedded AI, reflecting the fast-evolving business world. While China’s emphasis on innovation in its tech race with the US has steered many undergraduates towards science, technology, engineering and mathematics majors, demand for management education has remained resilient. AACSB data from its accredited schools – representing about 6 per cent of global business schools – shows undergraduate enrolment in business growing slowly but steadily, even if not at the explosive 20 per cent annual rates of decades past. “In terms of student pipelines, China may be getting a little bit soft on the management degree while pushing STEM,” she said, “but I think even if they do undergrad in STEM and management for the master’s degree, that’s a beautiful combination.” “Societal strength lies in diverse perspectives. Any society should welcome that. The younger generation can pursue STEM and management – both paths are valuable,” she said. AACSB maintains an institutionally neutral and apolitical stance.

Defying politics: how China’s business schools are innovating to keep talent pipeline open

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Amid decoupling risks, Chinese educators are embracing globalisation by ‘moving ideas’ to resist geopolitical walls

Amid decoupling risks, Chinese educators are embracing globalisation by ‘moving ideas’ to resist geopolitical walls