Building Bridges Across Asia: CECD Faculty Director Strengthens Global Entrepreneurship Partnerships
A month of collaboration across China and Vietnam is helping expand Loyola's global entrepreneurship network.
This summer, CECD Faculty Director Dr. Mazhar Islam traveled throughout China and Vietnam to strengthen international partnerships, share entrepreneurship research, and learn from some of Asia's leading universities and innovative companies. Joined for part of the journey by Dean of the College of Business and Gerald N. Gaston Eminent Chair in Entrepreneurship, Dr. Bobby Savoie, the trip opened new opportunities for collaboration while bringing valuable global perspectives back to Loyola.
Advancing Entrepreneurship Research
A major focus of the trip centered on Dr. Islam's ongoing research examining the evolution of Chinese entrepreneurial firms and how companies build globally competitive businesses.
At VinUniversity in Hanoi, Vietnam, Dr. Islam presented his research alongside collaborators Emil Jakobs and Dr. Bobby Savoie. Their work explored how different phases of China's economic reforms shaped entrepreneurial growth through case studies of several leading Chinese companies.
The discussions also examined how businesses evolve from Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) to Original Design Manufacturing (ODM) and ultimately to Original Brand Manufacturing (OBM), offering valuable insights for countries experiencing rapid economic growth and increasing foreign investment.
The research forms part of a forthcoming book, When Dragons Cross Oceans: How Chinese Entrepreneurs Go Global, which Dr. Islam is co-authoring with Dr. Savoie and Emil Jakobs.
Learning from Global Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
Throughout the month, Dr. Islam visited several institutions recognized for their leadership in entrepreneurship education and innovation.
At the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Entrepreneurship Center, he met with Director Cyrus Choi to learn about HKUST's approach to building a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. Discussions focused on founder networks, university-industry partnerships, satellite incubation centers throughout the Greater Bay Area, and innovative funding models that support student, faculty, and alumni ventures.
The visit sparked new ideas that may help strengthen entrepreneurship programming and ecosystem development at Loyola.
Exploring Future Academic Partnerships
In Guangzhou, Dr. Islam and Dr. Savoie visited Guangzhou Xinhua University to discuss opportunities for future collaboration.
Conversations centered on potential student exchanges, faculty exchanges, and other academic partnerships that could create meaningful international experiences for Loyola students and faculty while strengthening ties between the two institutions.
The visit highlighted the university's strong emphasis on applied education and career-oriented learning, reinforcing shared values around preparing students for an increasingly global economy.
Learning from Entrepreneurial Success Stories
The trip also provided opportunities to meet directly with founders and executives of several innovative companies whose entrepreneurial journeys have become the subject of Dr. Islam's research.
Among the highlights were visits to Four E's Scientific and GHTECH, where Dr. Islam and Dr. Savoie met with company leadership to learn firsthand about their growth from local manufacturers into globally competitive enterprises.
These conversations offered valuable perspectives on entrepreneurship, innovation, international expansion, and strategic growth—insights that will inform both Dr. Islam's research and future classroom discussions at Loyola.
Bringing Global Perspectives Back to Loyola
International engagement has long been an important part of the College of Business's mission to prepare students for an increasingly interconnected world.
By building relationships with universities, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders across Asia, Dr. Islam's travels help expand opportunities for future collaboration while bringing new ideas, global perspectives, and entrepreneurial best practices back to Loyola's campus.
As the Center continues to grow its local and international impact, these partnerships reinforce Loyola's commitment to connecting students with the people, ideas, and experiences shaping entrepreneurship around the world.