Conference on Competitiveness

Professor Kazuo Ichijo, Dean of Hitotsubashi University's Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy (Hitotsubashi ICS)

The mission of Hitotsubashi ICS is to achieve "the Best of Two Worlds." Instead of avoiding what is different, we welcome conflicting concepts. It is through the careful consideration of these conflicting concepts that synergies are generated. This process, which gives rise to new innovations, is what we call "Knowledge Creation." As a university, Hitotsubashi is committed to both education and research. At Hitotsubashi ICS, we particularly value the Porter Prize because it provides opportunities for interaction and collaboration with the applicants. The Porter Prize selection process also gives us the chance to gain practical knowledge from the individuals who are involved in the actual work, out in the field.

Hitotsubashi ICS offers many platforms for management education, including MBA and DBA programs. In addition, we are set to launch a new one-year Executive MBA ("EMBA") program in September 2017. The EMBA program is quite different from traditional full-time MBA programs--it is a low-residency program that targets working business executives, and effectively combines classroom study with online discussion.

As a member of GNAM (the Global Network for Advanced Management), Hitotsubashi ICS collaborates with 28 leading business schools around the world, primarily on educational and research activities. Leveraging our network of alliances with various graduate schools of business, course participants can take part in an intensive week-long mini-course at another school offering an executive MBA program.

In addition, we established a partnership program, "the BEST Alliance program," with Peking University and Seoul National University in 2011. [BEST = BEijing, Seoul, Tokyo.]

We are working to become a global base for innovation and knowledge creation. This can only be achieved through the support of companies. Through your support and through the Porter Prize we are working to make radical changes in Japan and the world.