AIM Graduates Philippines’ First Cohort from the Country’s Only Business Degree Anchored in International Business Law
The Asian Institute of Management (AIM) made history on the 7th of December 2025 as it graduated the Philippines’ first-ever cohort of business professionals and lawyers from its Master in International Business Law (MIBL) program, the region’s only business degree integrating comprehensive international business law training for professionals without legal backgrounds as well as lawyers seeking to deepen their financial, strategic, and management skills.
Held at Gallio Events Hall in Aseana City, Paranaque, the ceremony marked a significant milestone in Asian business education. The MIBL program equips executives, entrepreneurs, managers, and legally trained professionals with essential knowledge for navigating today’s complex global business landscape including policies and regulations governing cross-border transactions.
“This is a historic moment not just for AIM, but for business education across Asia,” said AIM President and Dean Dr. Jikyeong Kang. “While law schools across the region offer L.L.M. degrees for lawyers, we saw a critical gap: business leaders who need to understand law because it’s embedded in every aspect of global commerce—from contracts and compliance to mergers and international trade. At the same time, many lawyers recognize that legal expertise alone is no longer enough; to influence outcomes at the highest levels, they must understand business strategy, finance, and organizational leadership. Our inaugural graduates are pioneers who understood that in today’s interconnected world, business leaders must grasp the legal frameworks shaping every transaction, partnership, and strategic decision—without the need to become practicing lawyers or return to legal education.”
The December 7 commencement also honored graduates from the Institute’s other distinguished programs, including the International Master in Business Administration (iMBA), Executive Master in Business Administration (EMBA), Master in Development Management (MDM), Executive Master in Disaster Risk and Crisis Management (EMDRCM), Master in Innovation and Business (MIB), and the Master of Science in Data Science (MSDS). However, in this month’s graduation, the MIBL cohort, the first of its kind in the region, stood out to embody the Institute’s commitment to innovation and its pioneering spirit in anticipating the evolving needs of modern professionals.
Launched in April 2024 following years of visionary planning by the family of retired Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban and AIM leadership, the 18-month hybrid MIBL program addresses what AIM identified as a massive unmet need: professionals—both legally and non-legally trained—who understand that business management and international business law are inseparable but lack access to a program that integrates both within an executive business education framework.
“When I first decided to join the MIBL program, my goal was simple: I wanted to equip myself with the knowledge and tools to support my company as it expands internationally,” shared Ingrid Beroña, MIBL 2025 alumna and Chief Risk Officer of GCash. “But on my very first day, I quickly realized that this journey would be far more transformative than I had imagined.”
MIBL is a business degree, not a law degree, that welcomes professionals from all industries and academic backgrounds, including lawyers, who need a deeper understanding of how legal frameworks shape business outcomes.
“The Master in International Business Law is fundamentally a business degree,” explains Prof. Jose Gerardo Santamaria, Head of the Washington SyCip Graduate School of Business at AIM. “We’re developing business leaders who understand that law is embedded in everything they do. Our graduates can make strategic decisions, negotiate complex deals, manage compliance, and lead organizations in a globally regulated marketplace. For lawyers, the program offers something equally valuable: exposure to how executives think, how strategy and finance drive decisions, and how legal considerations function as business tools, not just legal constraints.”
The inaugural MIBL class navigated a curriculum specifically designed to integrate legal knowledge where it matters most. Whereas L.L.M. and law degrees train for legal specialization and practice or prepare students for qualifying examinations, MIBL is built on the premise that law permeates business functions—from finance and operations to strategy and innovation.
“Looking around the classroom, I noticed that the majority, if not all, were accomplished lawyers, businessmen, and executives already successful in their fields,” Beroña added. “Yet, that feeling of intimidation soon transformed into inspiration. I began learning with them, absorbing their insights, debating ideas, and discovering perspectives I had never considered.”
“What makes MIBL unique is how we’ve woven legal training into a business education framework,” said Prof. Mario Cerilles Jr., Academic Program Director of MIBL. “Our students don’t just learn international business law in isolation; they learn how it directly impacts financial risk management, intellectual property strategy, cross-border negotiations, and competitive positioning. For lawyers in this program, this means developing strategies, financial, and managerial perspectives. For business leaders, it means understanding the legal basis for strategic decisions. That intersection is where real leadership happens.”
The program seamlessly blends core business disciplines—financial management, risk management, data visualization, human capital management, cybersecurity and AI policy—with comprehensive training in international business law essentials: contracts and negotiations, intellectual property and technology management, international trade, competition law, commercial arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, financial rehabilitation and insolvency, business formation and organization, and regulatory compliance.
Through interactive case studies, simulations, and real-world projects, students developed legal literacy alongside cultural awareness and stakeholder management skills essential for leadership in today’s borderless economy. The interdisciplinary classroom environment, where lawyers and business professionals learn alongside each other, strengthens strategic thinking through cross-functional perspectives.
The pioneer MIBL graduates now join a community of over 50,000 AIM alumni who occupy leadership positions in enterprises, governments, and non-profits worldwide. These MIBL graduates, armed with a business degree that integrates essential legal knowledge, are uniquely positioned to assume pivotal roles where business strategy and legal frameworks intersect: from multinational corporations and financial institutions to government agencies and international organizations navigating cross-border complexities.
As professionals equipped with interdisciplinary skills spanning finance, leadership, and international business law frameworks, the class of MIBL 2025 graduates understand that law isn’t separate from business—it’s woven throughout every strategic decision.
The Master in International Business Law program is designed for business executives, senior managers, entrepreneurs, and lawyers who want to strengthen their understanding of how business management and international business law intersect. It is particularly suited for professionals—both legally and non-legally trained—who lead multinational operations, advise on or manage regulatory compliance, negotiate cross-border transactions, or support executive-level decision-making in a global context. Interested candidates can reach out to mibl@aim.edu.
