【Article by College of Commerce】
On October 23, 2023, the highly anticipated PRE-Partnership in International Management Conference (PRE-PIM Conference) took place at the College of Commerce at National Chengchi University (NCCUC), a leading business school in Taiwan. The event offered plenty of networking opportunities for the participants before the 2023 PIM Conference. Furthermore, the participants, who come from prestigious business institutions around the world gained insights into NCCUC and deepened their understanding of Taiwan, the island nation that has played a significant role in the high-tech industry in recent years.

The Conference commenced with a warm welcome from Professor Yenn-Ru Chen, the Associate Dean for International Affairs of the School. She emphasized NCCUC's pursuit of global engagements since its affiliation with PIM in 2018. The School cherishes its partnership with globally renowned business schools for greatly expanding international learning opportunities for its students. Following Professor Chen’s welcome remark, the International Programs Ambassadors (IPAs) gave a comprehensive and engaging introduction to both Taiwan and NCCUC. Through their presentations, they unveiled Taiwan's unique attributes, from its beautiful scenery, friendly people, and delectable cuisine to its vibrant festivals, world-class industries, and everyday life of students.

The event also featured a discussion on “Innovations and Challenges in Business Education,” presented by Professor Kwei Tang(唐揆), Dean’s Fellow and the Allison and Nancy Schleicher Chair of Management Emeritus at Purdue University. He offered his observations on the evolving business landscape, using the strategic initiatives of Purdue University as an example. He used the undergraduate major in integrating business and engineering as an example to show the effort of the business school to work closely with Purdue’s prestigious engineering school. During his presentation, Tang also shared his findings in analyzing the innovation cases reported by some member schools of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Notably, Tang underscored that updating academic curricula often lags behind in most institutions and used an example to demonstrate the difficulties of proposing new courses in practice. He indicated the importance of experiential learning and strategic designs of co-curricula to help students understand business practice and develop soft skills.

Beatrix Dart, a professor and academic director teaching business strategy at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, acknowledged the immense potential of technology in the business world. However, she urged a focus on the social impacts of technology, stating, "How to make the world more sustainable, fair, and inclusive for everyone through technology is of paramount importance." Patricia Collins, associate director of MBA programs at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, further underscored the value of exchange programs as a means to gain insights from other countries and apply that knowledge in their own courses. She stated, “Everyone has something valuable to bring back home.”

Following a brief tour of the downhill campus after the speech, Collins mentioned that the buildings at NCCUC reminded her of an old college campus. “It is very convenient and easy to walk from building to building, very efficient.” Her observation highlighted both the aesthetics and practicality of NCCU's campus design, offering a delightful blend of tradition and modern functionality.

Diana Hehle from the University of Cologne seized the opportunity to visit NCCUC. The University of Cologne and NCCUC have maintained a robust, long-term partnership, facilitating the exchange of a high number of students each semester. Lim expressed her perspective, saying, “So far, we have received reports from students, but seeing things with my own eyes has made a significant difference. Now I can describe the experience to students beyond just relying on pictures. The Pre-Conference at NCCUC undeniably deepened the understanding and connection between our two institutions.”

In the afternoon, the participants visited the TSMC Museum of Innovation in Hsinchu, where they delved into the remarkable journey of TSMC and its innovative business model in integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing and product applications. The museum is divided into three engaging galleries. The first, "A World of Innovation," provided participants with a firsthand experience of how ICs have enriched our lives through Virtual Reality Devices. In the subsequent gallery, "Unleashing Innovation," they explored how TSMC has contributed to global innovation. The final gallery shed light on the childhood and education of Dr. Morris Chang, the founder of TSMC. Given TSMC’s manufacturing of over 60% of the world’s semiconductors, including over 90% of the most advanced ones, a deeper exploration of TSMC is not only essential for understanding the company but also for gaining insights into Taiwan's significance in the semiconductor industry.

In contrast to Canada, Taiwan emerges as a dynamic and relatively youthful nation, characterized by a remarkable proclivity for adaptation and swift evolution. Collins expressed her keen interest in exploring commonalities among different countries as they navigate sustainability through new technology in their distinctive yet appropriate ways. In an era where knowledge knows no borders, NCCUC aspires for the 2023 Pre-PIM Conference to foster global collaboration and innovation in the field of business education, following the guiding principles of PIM.