Recognized globally for producing some of the finest minds in the fast-moving world of international trade and commerce, Waseda University’s dedicated business school has adopted innovative and dynamic approaches designed to foster actionable management knowledge.
The school has an intake of about 250 students a year, of whom around 100 are from abroad, and its alumunitoday occupy decision-making roles in leading companies around the world.
Students are drawn from diverse backgrounds and experiences – but they all emerge from Waseda Business School(WBS) equipped to be leaders of a new generation of business.
The Graduate:
The knowledge and experience gained at Waseda Business School have been instrumental in Rachele Pranteddu’s career successes to date – and she feels she benefited greatly from the “zemi” system.
“I did my degree and master’s qualifications in Europe, but then I wanted to try something different,” said 37-year-old Pranteddu, who is originally from Sardinia in Italy. “I was very interested in Asia because it is so different and this course gave me opportunities to complete part of my course elsewhere, so I spent time in Singapore, at UCLA in the United States and in Finland.
“And I found ‘zemi’ to be extremely useful and an interesting way to learn,” she added.
“Zemi,” a term borrowed from German, refers to English-language seminars that are supervised by a professor but are led by the students themselves to encourage interaction and discussion-based learning. In addition, members of each 10-strong “zemi” carry out fieldwork and extracurricular activities together, as well as interacting with other groups and alumni to form long-lasting connections and opportunities.
“I was happy that we were not only learning from books,” Pranteddu said. “We spoke with people from the business world with a lot of experience, we heard about their challenges and were able to think about how to deal with problems in different ways.”
In addition to the knowledge from the MBAcourse, Pranteddu said studying in Japan has given her a better understanding of how to navigate the cultural differences inherent in working in another country. And that is something that she brings to her present job, in the multinational Tokyo offices of a specialist, foreign-facing corporation, every day.
The Student:
When Immaculate Kobutetsi began researching potential schools for her MBA, she had a list of requirements. It would need to provide a superior level of education, of course, but it would also have to be internationally minded, provide clear opportunities for career development, introduce her to a new culture and language and provide a balance between learning in the classroom and in the broader society.
Waseda Business School delivers all that – and more – said Kobutetsi.
“The school is ranked No. 1 in Japan (Eduniversal Best Masters Ranking 2021), which will help me obtain a job later, but I wanted more than that,” said Kobutetsi, 31, who is from Uganda.
“I wanted to learn another language that would help me in business and to experience a different culture,” she said. “I needed a course that would help progress my career, teach me new skills and the opportunity to learn from other international students.
“For me, the ‘zemi’ system has been really helpful and I already feel I have learned a lot.”
And she has big plans as soon as she has completed her studies.
“I am going back to Uganda to help to develop my country,” she said. “I’m planning to build on the valuable knowledge I have gained here and to launch a financial startup. I am looking forward to being a successful CEO in Africa.”
The Professor:
To give students the actionable knowledge that they require to thrive, WBS creates a learning community, said Hiroshi Kanno, a professor of business strategy.
“It is not only members of the faculty who teach as we want the students to learn from each other,” he said. “They come from diverse backgrounds and have different perspectives and knowledge, so we can all learn from that.”
Diversity also promotes innovative thinking and encourages students to examine problems from new angles. Outcomes and solutions can be unconventional - but no less effective, he said.
The school has also forged close ties with executives in a wide range of business sectors, he pointed out, while a network of highly placed alumni is also constantly on hand to offer advice.
Challenges have been frequent in recent years, Professor Kanno admitted, but the school has consistently overcome them. The coronavirus pandemic has been one such test, with the campus temporarily closed in 2020. The answer, he said, was a swift transition to online lectures and the rapid introduction of more technology to ensure the seamless continuation of learning.
Unsurprisingly, the MBA education that WBS delivers has been recognized internationally. The business school is accredited by both AACSB and EQUIS, elevating it to a small group of elite institutions.
“That level of international acceptance and recognition is important because it is what students who are considering a course look at and it is what future employers consider when a student applies to them,” said Professor Kanno.
Brilliance in business
Waseda Business School’s mission is to equip the industry leaders of the future with the skills and knowledge they require to succeed. The school’s distinctive and engaging approaches to education make it a recognized leader in its field and the first choice for rising business stars.
For more information, visit waseda.jp