ISM Study Tour 2023: A warm welcome back to old friends

Our only partner in Lithuania, ISM University of Management and Economics first joined our network of partner schools in 2006. In 2015, our institution first organized a study tour for ISM, welcoming a small group of ISM students and faculty members to Japan for a custom program. This became an annual tradition between the schools until 2020, when Covid put a stop to the 5-year streak.

2023 marks the first time ISM has visited our school since 2019. Led by Prof. Vida Skudiene, head of ISM's graduate program in Innovation, a group of 10 students embarked on visits to the offices of Japanese giants such as Alpen and Toyota, but also gained deeper knowledge of production techniques in the factories of Asahi Forge, and new applications for AI and blockchain with tech entrepreneur and NUCB Professor Ted Katagi of Kenja Co. Throughout these experiences, the participants considered the question, "What are Japanese businesses doing to spur innovation, grow their organizations, and maintain a competitive advantage?"

Programs like these provide immersive experiences for students wishing to gain first-hand insight into Japanese culture, society, and, of course, business. Over the years, with its connections to industry and overseas institutions, our school has become a leading provider of these experiences in Japan, now arranging and hosting more than half a dozen such programs each year for prestigious institutions such as Esade (Spain), CUHK (China), and Thammasat (Thailand).