Asia’s influence on the world is growing – across the spheres of business, policy, technology, society and culture. Asia, and what happens in Asia, influences Swiss society and businesses on every level.

To be successful in an international environment, it is crucial to develop a deeper and more holistic understanding of Asia and Asian issues: we refer to this as Asia Competence. That is why since 2021, Asia Society Switzerland, together with the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), has been offering Asia NEXT. This Executive Education program aims to advance an understanding of important developments and issues in Asia and of how these are impacting Switzerland – and the world, and offer the opportunity for executives and leaders to engage with high-level experts from across the globe and join an active community of like-minded professionals with an interest in and curiosity for Asia.

Access to the Asia NEXT program is reserved exclusively for employees of Corporate Members and Partners of Asia Society Switzerland.

Sounds interesting? Send us an inquiry email >>

Become a Corporate Member or a Partner of Asia Society Switzerland. Contact us today >>
 

Overview

About Asia NEXT
Access to the program
What can you expect?
Who is the program for?
Why Asia Competence?
Voices from our Alumni
Frequently Asked Questions
About Asia Society Switzerland
About IMD

About Asia NEXT

About Asia NEXT

Asia NEXT is an Executive Education program specifically designed for executives and leaders who wish to –

• increase their Asia Competence;
• advance their understanding of important developments and issues in Asia – and how these are impacting Switzerland, Europe, and the world;
• engage with high-level experts from across the globe;
• join an active community of like-minded professionals with an interest in and curiosity for Asia.

All sessions are held in person in Zurich and are conducted in English.

Asia NEXT is offered by Asia Society Switzerland in collaboration with the International Institute of Management Development (IMD).

Access to the the program

Access to the Asia NEXT program is reserved exclusively for employees of Corporate Members and Partners of Asia Society Switzerland. 1-2 participants can be nominated per cycle. Participants do not need more than basic knowledge of or prior exposure to Asia.

Become a Corporate Member or a Partner of Asia Society Switzerland! Contact us today.

Employees from the following companies and organizations have participated in the Asia NEXT program since 2021:

What can you expect? 

By joining Asia NEXT, you will

• get a condensed overview of current developments in Asia, and discuss how these are impacting your business and those of your peers;
• get access to exclusive sessions with Asia experts across the fields of business, policy, and technology;
• get full member-level access to Asia Society Switzerland’s program of 60+ events per year for the duration of the program;
• receive a certificate confirming your engagement with and understanding of Asia and Asian issues after successfully completing the program;
• be invited to join the growing Asia NEXT Alumni Community and to future Asia NEXT events.
   

Who is the program for?

This program is for you if you:

• want to dive deeper into the question of what Asia means for Europe – in terms of politics, economy, policies and culture
• are curious about Asia and want to stay on top of important developments in the region
• are looking to connect with like-minded peers who share your interest in Asia
   

Formal requirements:

To join the program, you need to

• have been working at your current company for at least 2 years
• be on a managerial or executive level
• have a minimum of 5 years work experience
• have a job which requires networked thinking and covers a broad range of topics
• have good command of English

Why Asia Competence?

We deeply believe that only with increased Asia Competence and sustained engagement with Asia will Switzerland be able to continue to thrive in a multipolar world and play a constructive role in shaping the Asian Future.

To put it in the words of former Asia Society President Kevin Rudd:

To develop full Asia literacy, individuals, corporations, and governments in Switzerland need to be familiar with the countries of Asia in the same way that they have developed a granular familiarity with the countries of Europe. When you think in Switzerland of people’s knowledge of France, Germany and Austria, the United Kingdom, the countries of Northern Europe and Southern Europe – that is the level of granular expertise which is now required to deal separately with the different cultures and civilizations of Korea, Japan, China, but also the unique and vastly different sets of cultures and civilizations in Southeast Asia, South Asia and Central Asia, for which we use the collective term of convenience “Asia”. The origin of the term “Asia”, it means: the East. That presupposes there’s a geostrategic centre of gravity called “The West” – well, that is changing. So, for those in the West, the time has come to fully grasp the complexities and the opportunities of the East, starting with language, moving through culture, on the journey through history, and then the important fabric of inter-personal relationships you can also develop through programs such as Asia NEXT.

Voices from our alumni

Interesting and value-adding course that provides you with an up-to-date view on the opportunities and challenges that the Asia region is facing – and what it means for Europe. Essential to everyone who works in and with Asia.

Abigail Goundry, Director Group Marketing at DKSH, Asia NEXT alumna 2023

I enjoyed the access to a wide range of topics and experts, as well as interesting colleagues from various backgrounds.

Jan Vonder Mühll, Head Corporate Communications at Julius Bär, Asia NEXT alumnus 2023
 

With the overload of information out there, the Asia NEXT program offers tailor-made insights into the most relevant topics an interested professional dealing with and interested in Asia will want to cover.

Bettina Schaller, SVP Head Group Public Affairs at The Adecco Group, Asia NEXT alumna 2022
 

The program gave me a different perspective on how Asia sees the world.

Adrian Vogel, Head of Industry Sector at Swissmem, Asia NEXT alumnus 2022
 

As future correspondent for Radio SRF, I will cover China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, North Korea and Mongolia. The insights I received at the Asia NEXT roundtables and additional Asia Society events have expanded my know-how and triggered further research.

Samuel Emch, Business Editor at Radio SRF, Asia NEXT alumnus 2021

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Asia NEXT program cost? 

Participation in the Asia NEXT program is complimentary for employees of Corporate Members and Partners of Asia Society Switzerland.

How much time should I set aside for the program? 

By joining Asia NEXT, you take part in four sessions, each taking place on a Friday morning. You also join the kick-off and graduation event, as well as a company visit. In addition to that, you need to set time aside for preparing for each session (you will receive pre-readings for each session ahead of time); working on a case study in a group of 1-2 peers; and joining additional Asia Society Switzerland events during the program.

Do I have to attend the Asia NEXT events in person? 

A big part of what makes Asia NEXT valuable is its community. Therefore, we generally expect our participants to attend in person whenever possible. Upon consultation, an online participation of some parts of the program is possible. However, we cannot guarantee online participation for all program elements.

What happens after the program has ended? 

After you successfully complete and graduate from the program, you become part of the Asia NEXT Alumni Community and become part of a growing network of professionals in Switzerland and across the globe. You also have the opportunity to take part in certain sessions of future iterations of the Asia NEXT program. And of course, we highly encourage you to stay part of Asia Society Switzerland’s community and become a Member.
 

About Asia Society Switzerland

Asia Society Switzerland is a Swiss non-profit organization dedicated to Asia. We are part of the global Asia Society network with 16 centers around the world, of which 7 are in Asia.

We deeply believe that only with increased Asia Competence and sustained engagement with Asia will Switzerland be able to continue to thrive in a multipolar world and play a constructive role in shaping the Asian Century. For this reason, we have made it our mission to foster Asia Competence in Switzerland. We do so by shaping the public discourse, providing insights to decision-makers, educating leaders on Asia, supporting the next generation and connecting Asia-minded people and organizations in Switzerland.

About IMD

The International Insitutute for Management Development (IMD) has been a pioneering force in developing leaders who transform organizations and contribute to society since it was founded more than 75 years ago.

Led by an expert and diverse faculty, with campuses in Lausanne, Singapore and a Management Development Hub in Shenzen, IMD strives to be the trusted learning partner of choice for ambitious individuals and organizations worldwide. IMD’s executive education and degree programs are consistently ranked among the world’s best by the Financial Times, Bloomberg, Forbes and others. IMD's leading position in the field is grounded in its unique approach to creating real learning, real impact. Through its research, programs and advisory work IMD enables business leaders to find new and better solutions: challenging what is and inspiring what could be.