AIM Course Ranks Among Top 10 Worldwide in the Global Network for Advanced Management Small Network of Online Courses Fall 2025
MAKATI CITY, Philippines—The Asian Institute of Management (AIM) has achieved a significant milestone in its participation in the Global Network for Advanced Management (GNAM), with the course “Leading Change and Innovation” ranking among the top 10 most in-demand offerings across the network for Fall Term 2025.
Among 33 courses offered by 22 GNAM partner schools worldwide, the AIM course, taught by Professor Maria Victoria Q. Caparas, PhD, stood alongside offerings from Yale School of Management, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and HEC Paris.
This marks a first for AIM, attracting 33 international students, the highest intake in the Institute’s history of the Small Network of Online Courses (SNOC).
“I was really happy for AIM—it’s the first time we’ve reached this kind of recognition since joining the GNAM network, and being part of that felt special,” shares Prof. Caparas. “Teaching in this program means I get to share not just knowledge, but also life lessons with students from different backgrounds. That part comes naturally to me, because I’ve always believed change and innovation aren’t just concepts we study—they’re things we live. The moment we stop changing, we stop growing, and that’s what I try to remind my students too.”
Philippine Excellence on the Global Stage
For Prof. Caparas, the recognition carries profound meaning: “I’m proudest that a school founded and based right here in the Philippines has made it to the global stage through the GNAM network. I’ve always admired the professors in top business schools around the world, so I never imagined being mentioned in the same space.”
The course’s global appeal reflects more than faculty reputation—it validates the universal relevance of its content. “Students don’t just sign up for the professor, they sign up for the value of the topic,” Prof. Caparas notes. “That’s encouraging. It tells me that ideas matter more than names.”
Where Culture Meets Change
Inspired by the Harvard Business School’s Leading Change core curriculum, the AIM course examines how leaders navigate transformation in an increasingly complex world, combining real-world cases with interactive simulations. What makes the learning experience particularly rich is the cultural diversity of the classroom—a feature that Prof. Caparas leverages thoughtfully.
“Change itself is a universal phenomenon—every organization experiences it—but how people see and respond to change often depends on culture,” she explains. Students from high power-distance contexts react differently to leadership mistakes than those from individualistic cultures, creating dynamic discussions that broaden everyone’s perspective.
Yet once class begins, she observes, “nationality really fades into the background.” Students become unified by common concerns: leading stalled projects, navigating AI’s impact on careers, and managing organizational resistance. “Those are very human concerns, and they cut across borders.”
Innovation Born from Necessity
Prof. Caparas believes Filipino educators bring something distinctive to global management education, especially when it comes to innovation. “We’re smart, resourceful, and often creative out of necessity,” she shares. “I always say, innovation tends to thrive where there’s need. If everything around you is comfortable, there’s less push to change anything. But when you face real challenges—like poverty, limited access to education, or even corruption—that’s when true innovation can emerge.”
This practical, values-driven approach enriches the global conversation on leadership. Combined with the Philippines’ English proficiency and international experience, it positions Filipino business education as increasingly relevant worldwide.
The achievement also builds on the Institute’s recent QS 2026 recognition as the number one school worldwide for class experience in the Online MBA. For Prof. Caparas, this represents something deeper: the democratization of world-class education. “I actually teach using the same live setup that the Online MBA students use, so I get to experience firsthand how engaging and interactive it can be. I think that’s our unique contribution to GNAM’s mission—we’re making management education more democratic. You don’t have to fly abroad, stay in a hotel, or be away from your loved ones to get a world-class education. With the right technology and the right heart for teaching, we can bring that global experience right here to the Philippines and share it with the world.”
Leading Change with Purpose
Her final message to students everywhere captures the spirit of the program: “Change always begins with you,” she emphasizes. “It doesn’t have to be something big that needs a budget, a team, or a fancy title. Sometimes, it starts with the smallest habits.” For Prof. Caparas, even simple acts like ensuring your audio works before class represent small battles against complacency, and that’s where real growth begins. Innovation, she believes, isn’t always about new technologies or breakthroughs, but about using what you already have purposefully. “Change doesn’t have to be dramatic,” she concludes. “It just has to be intentional.”
Don’t wait for change to happen, lead it with AIM. Start your leadership journey now. Visit aim.edu to learn more.
