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Studies & Degrees in Asian Pacific Management

Asian Pacific management, also written Asia-Pacific management, is the study of how companies are run in and across the economies of East and Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. It is a specialisation of international business. Students learn general management and then apply it to a region where languages, legal systems and business customs differ from one market to the next.

Few universities award a degree with exactly this name. In practice the subject is studied as a major, a concentration or a track inside a business degree, often with a language and a period abroad.

What students learn

The core is the same as in any international business programme. The University of Wollongong (UOW) in Australia describes its International Business major as the study of how cultural, social and economic differences influence the way businesses communicate, make decisions and build relationships across borders. Topics include international markets, cross-cultural communication, leadership and global business strategy.

A regional focus adds three things:

  • knowledge of the economies and business cultures of the region
  • a language such as Chinese or Japanese
  • time in the region, through study abroad, an internship or a field study

The Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa is an example of a school built around this focus. It states that it distinguishes itself with its expertise on the Asia-Pacific region, and its Pacific Asian Management Institute, founded in 1977, is its centre for international business programmes with an Asia-Pacific focus.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree. The Bachelor of Business (International Business) at UOW lasts 3 years full-time. UOW also lists a double degree that combines the Bachelor of International Studies with the Bachelor of Business. In the United States, SUNY Cortland offers a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies of 126 credit hours. Students combine five core courses with seven courses from one of 10 concentrations, and they need fluency in a foreign language or proficiency in two.
  • Master's degree. The Master of Business at UOW lasts 1.5 years full-time. It can be combined with the Master of International Business in a double master's programme, which leads to two master's degrees in two years.
  • MBA with a regional track. The Global MBA at the Shidler College of Business can be taken on a 21-month, 24-month or 36-month plan. Students on the 21-month plan may choose a China or Japan focus. The Japan option includes Japanese language courses and study abroad at a partner school, and it ends with the MBA degree and a Shidler Certificate in Japanese Business. The college also runs an Executive MBA in Vietnam.

Where to study it

The SpainExchange directory lists 2 schools for this subject: the University of Wollongong in Australia and SUNY Cortland in the United States. Both teach in English.

UOW is itself present in the region. Besides its Australian campuses, it has campuses in the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Malaysia and India, and a presence in China and Singapore. The university states that it is accredited by AACSB International. At SUNY Cortland, the closest routes are the International Studies major, which has a concentration in Global Economic Systems, and the Business Economics major, which covers international trade and finance and economic development.

When comparing programmes, check how much of the curriculum is about the region, whether a language is required, and whether a semester or an internship in Asia is part of the plan or has to be organised separately.

Careers

Graduates work for companies that trade with or operate in the region, for banks and consultancies, and for trade promotion bodies and government. UOW lists roles such as international market analyst, international trade coordinator and import/export officer for its International Business graduates. Senior management positions come with experience. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that top executives typically need at least a bachelor's degree and considerable work experience, and it projects that overall employment of top executives in the United States will grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a degree called Asian Pacific Management?

Rarely under that exact name. The subject is usually a major, concentration or track inside a business degree, such as the China and Japan focus options of the Global MBA at the Shidler College of Business.

Do I need to speak an Asian language?

It depends on the programme. The Japan focus of the Shidler Global MBA includes Japanese language courses, and the International Studies degree at SUNY Cortland requires fluency in a foreign language or proficiency in two. Other programmes are taught fully in English.

How long does it take?

A bachelor's degree in business at the University of Wollongong lasts 3 years full-time and its Master of Business 1.5 years. The Shidler Global MBA takes 21, 24 or 36 months, depending on the plan.