Yasuhiro Harima
School: Sasin School of Management (Thailand)
April - May 2025
Mr. Harima (second from the left)
Participating in the TSSP at Sasin School of Management in Bangkok was a truly eye-opening and enriching experience. I took two courses – Strategic Management for Emerging Asia and Pricing Strategies – which broadened my understanding of how business in Thailand and ASEAN region navigate post-pandemic volatility and emerging market challenges.
A particularly memorable experience was visiting both a Japanese SME with proprietary technology and a leading commercial bank, where we engaged in discussions with professionals about business expansion – opportunities rarely available outside an MBA setting.
Sasin’s learning environment was both academically rigorous and deeply collaborative. Faculty, entrepreneurs, and alumni shared practical insights, and my classmates – many of whom manage family businesses or lead start-ups – brought vibrant perspectives from the actual markets. I was also welcomed by the entire Sasin community, which made lasting impression on me.
Living in Bangkok for a month allowed me to experience Thai culture firsthand, from its daily life and cuisine to its strong ties with Japan. This program not only provided academic credit but also shaped my global mindset and cultural awareness.
I am sincerely grateful for this opportunity and would highly recommend the TSSP to future students looking to gain practical, cross-cultural insights in an emerging market context.
Yuko Eguchi, MBA-IB Graduate, Class of 2024
On January 25, 2025, I had the honor of speaking at the MBA-IB Speaker Series at the University of Tsukuba. My session was titled “Managing Business Startup” and consisted of a 90-minute lecture followed by a 30-minute Q&A session.
During the talk, I shared insights on a range of topics, including:I was deeply encouraged by the active engagement of the students, who listened attentively and asked thoughtful, enthusiastic questions throughout the session. Their curiosity and passion for entrepreneurship and career development were truly inspiring. Reflecting on my own journey and sharing it with current students was a meaningful experience. I hope that my story offered even a small piece of guidance or encouragement to those considering similar paths. I look forward to continuing my own challenges while staying connected with the MBA-IB community.
Yuko Eguchi, MBA-IB Graduate, Class of 2024
I participated in the 15th Conference on Transdisciplinary Science and Technology, held on December 14 (Sat) and 15 (Sun), 2024, at the Ookayama Campus of the Institute of Science Tokyo, where I delivered both an oral and a poster presentation.
The presentation, titled “Initiatives to Alleviate Patients' Self-Perceived Burden,” was co-authored by myself (Yuko Eguchi, Part-time Research Fellow) and Associate Professor Yasunobu Kino.
At the conference, I had the opportunity to engage in discussions with researchers from various disciplines and received valuable feedback. With these insights in mind, I will incorporate them into both my research and practical activities, striving to deliver greater value through my work.
As we bid farewell to three of our dear colleagues, Ono sensei and Xu sensei, who are retiring, and Kino sensei, who is embarking on a new and exciting chapter in his career, we are filled with a deep sense of gratitude and a touch of melancholy.
Working alongside all of you has been an incredible privilege, and on behalf of the faculty and students, we want to express our heartfelt thanks for your tireless dedication, passion, and the lasting impact you've had on all of us. Your contributions will always be cherished, and you will forever hold a special place in our hearts.
While it's hard to say goodbye, we are hopeful that our paths will cross again in the future. We wish you all the best in whatever comes next, and know that you will always be remembered with warmth and appreciation.
Best of luck and take care.
(L - R): Ono sensei, Kino sensei, Xu sensei
(front row: L - R): Noda sensei, Ho sensei, Tonami sensei, Hirai sensei
(back row: L - R): Ono sensei, Tan sensei, Kino sensei, Xu sensei
As a meaningful way to conclude 2024, a group of our students partnered with Habitat for Humanity through the Project HomeWorks (PHW) initiative and organised a donation drive.
PHW is designed to support older adults and individuals with mental or physical disabilities who struggle to maintain a safe and livable home environment. In many cases, their living conditions decline to a level where they can no longer manage the situation by themselves. To address this, volunteers step in to help restore these spaces to a secure and habitable state. Once the home is stabilised, ongoing maintenance is encouraged through collaboration between the homeowner and their social worker.
A heartfelt appreciation to Pavan (M1 student) for leading this initiative and to all M1 and M2 members for their dedication in researching and selecting the charity, as well as for their valuable ideas and contributions.
・M2 students: Enami Shun, Itsuki Tomiyama, Juliana Ibeas Moreira de Souza, Soe Phu Pwint Pwint
・M1 students: Kaoru Kikuchi, Koji Murakami, Pavan Vengella Kumar, Satoshi Iwamura, Woosung Cho
Ms. Soe Phu Pwint Pwint
Mr. Ming Yang
School: Shanghai University (China)
November - December 2024
Ms. Phu (sixth from the front right) and Mr. Yang (third from the left) with Shanghai University MBA students
One of the highlights of the University of Tsukuba MBA-IB program is the opportunity to cross borders through education. As part of this initiative, we participated in the TSSP short-term study program at Shanghai University, located in China's tier-1 city, Shanghai. The two-week program was perfectly timed for M2 students, as it provided valuable insights into dissertation writing. Beyond academics, we built meaningful connections with Chinese students and exchanged cultural experiences.
Our learning extended beyond university walls, allowing us to immerse ourselves in China's rich culinary traditions, explore the operations of SMEs in Shanghai, and experience Suzhou—a city that beautifully blends tradition and modernity. We are deeply grateful to the University of Tsukuba for supporting us in this indispensable learning opportunity.
→ Tsukuba Short-Term Study Program
Associate Professor Aki Tonami published the following academic paper in collaboration with Professor Hidehiro Yamamoto.
[Title]
Women, Social Media and Political Engagement in Japan: A Survey Study
[Journal]
International Quarterly for Asian Studies
[DOI]
https://doi.org/10.11588/iqas.2024.3.26277
A cohort of first and second-year MBA-IB students participated in visits to various organizations and institutions across Italy from 16 to 20 September 2024, exploring a wide range of challenges affecting different industries. During these visits, our students not only gained valuable insights but also presented their own research findings, demonstrating how they applied the knowledge acquired in their MBA-IB courses.
This time, the students researched and presented several key topics: the impact of sustainability on P&L along with a sustainability proposal for Safilo, an evaluation of customer experience across different touchpoints for Save the Duck Japan with suggestions to enhance satisfaction and loyalty, and a strategic analysis of Treedom's indirect competitors in the B2B space, along with scaling best practices. Additionally, MUFG Milano delivered an insightful session, sharing their success stories and challenges in the field of ESG in Italy.
We express our heartfelt gratitude to Safilo, Treedom, Save the Duck, and MUFG Milan for providing our students with these exceptional opportunities.
Dr. Junjian Gu served as Guest Editor for the Special Issue "Empirical Research on Non-financial Disclosure Practices" in the Journal of Risk and Financial Management (ISSN 1991-8074), a Scopus-indexed journal with a CiteScore of 4.5 for 2023, ranked Q1 in Business, Management, and Accounting (miscellaneous).
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/jrfm/special_issues/C0270VHG71
Yuko Eguchi, MBA-IB Graduate, Class of 2024
This is a selective training program organized by Waseda University, supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, for universities affiliated with GTIE (Greater Tokyo Innovation Ecosystem), including the University of Tsukuba. The program is designed for young entrepreneurs and student entrepreneurs aspiring to global business development, providing them with opportunities to acquire international-level entrepreneurial skills and network with overseas startups, young entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and universities with innovative technology through intensive programs such as boot camps in Japan and local programs in Melbourne.
From March 4th to 8th, 2024, I participated in practical classes at the Melbourne Business School, led by highly experienced lecturers who themselves have founded startup companies. They were deeply engaged, and each lecture offered new insights. Additionally, I had the privilege of joining lunch gatherings with the founders of numerous Australian startups, providing a valuable opportunity for personal discussions on the essential aspects of entrepreneurship. After class, I explored the city and savored Melbourne's unique charm. With the help of many people, I was able to visit the consulate, the accelerator, and the institute of a joint venture between the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Hospital to have fruitful discussions. On the last day, I presented in front of local venture capitalists and received invaluable feedback. This experience will undoubtedly benefit my future endeavors.
The most influential lesson I learned from this training was the importance of recognizing "small wins" and consistently striving to achieve them. In various societal, work, and academic contexts, we are frequently pressured for results. Only outcomes are typically celebrated, with little attention given to the journey and setbacks encountered along the way. Yet, I was reminded that every task, regardless of its scale, holds value when we commit to it and see it through to completion. The cultivation of a daily sense of accomplishment forms the bedrock upon which significant success is ultimately built.
Melbourne's generous support for startups, the friendliness of its people, and the beauty of the city all contributed to a truly wonderful week that I will never forget. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone involved for allowing me to participate in this program.
