Visiting Toulouse Business School: Building a Strategic Partnership for the Future of Business Education in Japan and France

On July 6 and 7, 2026, Dean Taka Hosoda, Associate Professor Mayuko Nishii, and Research Associate Kayoung Kim from Aoyama Business School (ABS), Aoyama Gakuin University, visited Toulouse Business School (TBS) in France. Over the course of two productive days at both the Paris and Toulouse campuses, the delegation engaged in meaningful discussions aimed at strengthening the partnership between our two business schools.

Day 1: Paris Campus
Our visit began at the TBS Paris Campus, located in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, where we were warmly welcomed by Ms. Florence Ramillon, Director of International Relations and Accreditations, and Mr. Louis-Marie Juvin, Campus Director.

A Dynamic Learning Environment:
We received a comprehensive introduction to TBS's multi-campus ecosystem and diverse program portfolio, gaining valuable insights into the wide range of learning opportunities available to students. We also toured the campus facilities, including classrooms currently undergoing renovation.

Excellence in Aerospace Management:
We had the opportunity to meet online with Professor Dr. Cordula Barzantny from the Aerospace Management Excellence Center. Our discussion highlighted TBS's internationally recognized strengths in aerospace management education and research and explored opportunities for future academic collaboration.

Day 2: Toulouse Campus
On the second day, we traveled to Toulouse, the home campus of TBS, where we met with the leadership team from International Relations as well as faculty members representing several areas of academic expertise.

Engaging with TBS Excellence Centers:
Faculty members introduced the activities of several Excellence Centers focusing on critical issues shaping today's business environment, including Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development, Artificial Intelligence, and Business Analytics. These discussions provided valuable insights into TBS's interdisciplinary and research-driven approach to business education.

Exploring Future Collaboration:
We exchanged ideas on a variety of potential collaborative initiatives, including joint research projects, seminars, guest lectures, and executive education programs. We also discussed opportunities to develop international study seminars for professionals, further expanding the global learning experiences offered by both institutions.

Looking Ahead:
This visit reaffirmed that TBS's innovative vision for management education shares many common values with ABS's commitment to providing globally oriented, high-quality business education. We are confident that this visit has laid a strong foundation for a long-term strategic partnership that will benefit both institutions.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to everyone at Toulouse Business School for their warm hospitality, especially Ms. Florence Ramillon for organizing this valuable visit. We look forward to deepening the relationship between our institutions and creating new opportunities that will inspire our students, faculty, and broader academic communities.