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The founder of the Chinese tech giant, Alibaba, Jack Ma, announced on Wednesday that he will be taking up a teaching post at one of Japan’s top universities, Waseda University.
Mr. Ma, 55, began his career as a English teacher in 1995 and with the announcement of this new post he is returning to his roots. This comes after he stepped down as chairman of the Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
In a statement, Waseda University said that “Jack Ma’s broad international networks, unique insights, and perspectives will enrich the international exchange programs of Waseda University.” The statement further said that the purpose of the teaching post is to “offer students the opportunity to learn from Mr. Ma’s wealth of successful experiences in the areas of global business.”
Mr. Ma is scheduled to begin teaching in April 2020. There are no details released about the specific classes or what topics will be covered. Waseda University has yet to confirm if Mr. Ma will be delivering lectures in person or online.
This is not the first time Mr. Ma has pursued a educational interest. He is a board director of the China Europe International Business School, which is one of China’s premier business schools. In addition, he is a mentor to a variety of universities and educational institutions, imparting his knowledge and experience to the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Mr. Ma, who is currently China’s richest man with an estimated net worth of $41 billion, is without doubt one of China’s most successful entrepreneurs. Despite his success, he has remained committed to furthering the education of the next visionary entrepreneurs. This most recent post is another testament to his commitment to education.
