As part of the elective curriculum within the MBA program, students have the opportunity in their second year to enroll in an Immersive Field Course – or “IFC.” The Japan IFC was started in 2012 and led by Professor
Hiro Takeuchi as a response to the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. The program has evolved as the reconstruction has progressed. The team-based consulting project location shifted to Tokyo in 2018, and the theme is “Innovation through the Fusion of Digital and Analog.” However, the group still had the opportunity to visit the Tohoku region that suffered from the disaster for a weekend. This year, Professor Hiro Takeuchi and Professor
Ramon Casadesus-Masanell from the School’s Strategy Unit led 45 students to Japan for 10 days. During their stay in Japan, students were involved in three types of activities: 1) team-based consulting projects for companies in Tokyo; 2) group activities to learn about and contribute to the disaster-affected areas in the Tohoku region; and 3) immersive experiences in traditional and modern Japanese culture. This was the 10th year Professor Takeuchi taught the Japan IFC and his last MBA class he taught. Also, the last day of the course was Professor Ramon Casadesus-Masanell’s birthday. The students did a lovely celebration for Hiro and Ramon at the closing dinner.