TOKYO, Japan – January 17, 2022. The School of International Corporate Strategy, Hitotsubashi University Business School (hereafter “the School”), announced today its decision to discontinue the School’s Executive MBA (EMBA) program and dedicate its resources to further enhancing the School's full-time MBA Program and Executive Education Programs.
Hitotsubashi ICS is dedicated to developing the next generation of business leaders for Japan and the world. Launched in 2017, the EMBA program offered degree candidates a carefully curated curriculum aimed at fortifying candidates' understanding of essential business models and the fundamentals of strategy, as well as their knowledge in fast-evolving areas such as digital disruption, globalization and sustainability.
The School will continue to deliver highest-quality, customized executive education of this kind, but in more flexible programming with more open enrollment and broader reach. Dean Kaz Ichijo explained, "the decision to close the EMBA program was a tough one for the faculty; however, as a business school, we must evolve with the times to meet the demands of the high-impact, high-growth field of lifelong learning.”
Regarding degree programs, the decision will impact student enrollment in the full-time MBA program, with the 15 places currently allocated to the EMBA program reallocated to the full-time MBA program. As a result, the number of available places in the full-time MBA program for admissions from AY2022-2023 onwards will rise from 28 to 43. The EMBA program’s discontinuance will have no effect on admissions relating to the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program.
Dean Ichijo reassured EMBA graduates and current candidates that their connection with Hitotsubashi ICS shall continue to develop: "Remember: the biggest asset of this program and our School is you, the alumni; the network and your affiliation to our institution is for life. We are all One ICS." In addition, Dean Ichijo expressed, on behalf of all at the school, deepest gratitude to the guest speakers, visiting lecturers, sponsoring companies, and program partners around the world for having shared the journey of excellence that characterized the five years of the program’s offering.
As Hitotsubashi ICS begins this new chapter, the School would like to acknowledge and thank the EMBA’s two Program Directors, Professors Tom Ito and Hiroshi Ono, who led the School in the design and delivery of this globally lauded program.