AIM Sets a New Benchmark with Highest-Rated Global Network Week
The Asian Institute of Management (AIM) has reached a new milestone in international graduate education as its recently concluded Global Network Week (GNW) earned a perfect participant satisfaction rating of 5.0 out of 5.0—the highest score ever achieved by the Institute since it first hosted Global Network Week in 2014.
The achievement marks a defining moment not only for AIM but also within the Global Network for Advanced Management (GNAM), positioning the program among the highest-performing Global Network Week offerings across the network in 2026. The distinction reflects the Institute’s continued commitment to delivering world-class learning experiences that combine academic rigor, meaningful industry engagement, and international collaboration.
Hosted under GNAM—a consortium of leading business schools worldwide—Global Network Week brings together graduate students from member institutions for an intensive week of faculty-led discussions, company visits, and immersive cultural experiences. This year’s program welcomed participants from Fudan University, ESMT Berlin, University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, University of Cape Town, Strathmore University, and IMD Switzerland, reflecting the breadth and diversity of the network’s global academic community. Designed around themes unique to each host school, the program enables participants to examine global business challenges through the lens of local industries and economies while building lasting relationships with peers from around the world.
This year’s edition further strengthened the Institute’s role as a regional hub for global exchange by welcoming participants from across all AIM-Washington SyCip Graduate School of Business (WSGSB) programs for the third time. The multidisciplinary cohort represented seven countries, bringing together professionals with diverse academic backgrounds, industries, and cultural perspectives. Together, they enriched classroom discussions, fostered cross-cultural collaboration, and deepened conversations on sustainability, innovation, and responsible business leadership.
For Trina Biswas, International Master in Business Administration 2026 student, the diversity of the cohort became one of the defining aspects of the program. “The perfect mix of international and Filipino participants allowed for deeper, richer, and poignant discussions both in the classroom and outside,” she reflected. She added that the participants’ varied professional backgrounds, cultural contexts, and personal perspectives created “a genuine sense of openness, curiosity, and mutual respect throughout the program,” underscoring how global collaboration enriches both academic and personal learning.
Beyond the classroom, participants experienced firsthand how the Philippines is advancing sustainable development through entrepreneurship and innovation.
A highlight of the week was the Institute’s collaboration with the Dado Banatao Incubator (DBI), where participants engaged with founders from AIM-supported startups addressing some of the country’s most pressing environmental, agricultural, and social challenges.
Through conversations with the teams behind Sustina, Mayani, and Klimatech, participants explored how purpose-driven enterprises are creating scalable, technology-enabled solutions that generate both business value and positive social impact. The visits provided valuable insights into the Philippine startup ecosystem while demonstrating how innovation can serve as a catalyst for sustainable and inclusive growth.
The immersive experiences reinforced the program’s academic discussions by allowing participants to see sustainability in practice. Reflecting on the experience, Maria Bernadette R. Samonte, Master of Science in Financial Technology 2026 student, observed, “Sustainable value is created not by what organizations say, but by what they consistently do.” For Samonte, engaging with entrepreneurs and sustainability practitioners transformed sustainability from a business concept into a leadership mindset grounded in integrity, innovation, and purposeful action.
The program’s record-breaking evaluation underscores the success of the Institute’s holistic approach to international education—one that extends beyond traditional classroom instruction to create meaningful opportunities for experiential learning, cultural immersion, and global collaboration.
The experience also left a lasting impression on international participants. Max McDonald, who joined the program from the United States, reflected, “The Philippines has a lot to teach the world about sustainability.” His observation captured one of the program’s defining strengths: showcasing how local innovation, community-driven solutions, and purpose-led enterprises can contribute meaningfully to addressing global sustainability challenges.
As business challenges become increasingly interconnected, initiatives such as Global Network Week play an important role in preparing future leaders to think across borders, appreciate diverse perspectives, and develop solutions with global relevance and local impact.
With its highest-rated Global Network Week to date, AIM continues to strengthen its position as a premier business school in Asia. By bringing together students from some of the world’s leading business schools, fostering meaningful engagement with Philippine industries and communities, and delivering an immersive learning experience grounded in sustainability and innovation, the Institute continues to demonstrate the power of global collaboration in shaping the next generation of responsible business leaders.
