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In 1965, three of the top schools in the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle College and the University of the Philippines approached the Ford Foundation with competing financial assistance proposals to upgrade their respective business education offerings. However, the Ford Foundation had a much larger vision in mind: that of elevating business education for the entire Asian region. So it urged the universities to consolidate their efforts instead – a landmark idea, for they had never before considered collaborating on any inter-university program.
The following year the Ford Foundation gave a five-year US$1.2 million grant to the Ateneo de manila, De La Salle and Philippine and Inter-University Consortium for the development of a full-time MBA program, with Harvard University as project grant administrator. An advisory group was assembled and sent to Manila, led by Harvard’s Professor Ralph Z. Sorenson. The Harvard Advisory Group suggested a merge of the schools, to establish one institution.
By February 1968, a completed project report appeared, entitled “Asian Institute of Management: A Joint Project of Ateneo De Manila University and De La Salle College.” And so the Institute was named.
Timeline
1966
Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle College, and the Philippine Inter-University Consortium receive the Ford Foundation''s five-year US$ 1.2 million grant. A Harvard University advisory group is sent to oversee implementation in Manila.
1968
The consortium and the Harvard group approve a merger, creating a new educational institution called the "Asian Institute of Management" or AIM.
Eugenio Lopez Foundation, Inc. donates PhP 5 million for the construction of the main AIM building. Ayala Corporation provides a one- hectare site in Makati for the new school.
The Institute’s Board of Trustees is constituted. Washington Z. SyCip is elected Chairman; Stephen H. Fuller is AIM''s first President.
AIM is incorporated. A separate, private non-stock and non-profit organization called the AIM Scientific Research Foundation is also formed, to handle corporate donations to AIM.
1969
AIM admits its first 94 students to the Master in Business Management (MBM) program.
Groundbreaking of the new AIM campus in Makati begins.
1970
Classes start at AIM''s newly-built Makati campus, with 235 MBM students from Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Ceylon, Thailand, Pakistan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Philippines, and the United States.
1971
AIM’s International Board of Governors (BOG) representing Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Republic of China, and Thailand holds its first meeting. The BOG later expands to include Australia, Brunei, Canada, India, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States of America, and Vietnam.
1974
The one-year Master in Management (MM) program is launched. An average of about 55% of the students are from overseas.
1975
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos signs Presidential Decree 639, formalizing the Institute''s character as an international graduate school of management.
1989
Jose L. Cuisia Jr. is elected co-chairman of the Institute.
With financial support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Master in Development Management degree program is launched.
1994
AIM starts its International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), enabling AIM students to visit schools in the US, Europe, Canada, Japan, and Australia.
1995
AIM is given the Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding, for setting regionwide standards for excellence in training managers for Asia’s development.
1996
AIM is voted into the Program for International Management (PIM), an international association of the finest management schools in North America, Latin America and Europe. AIM is the first and only member-school from Asia.
1997
AIM launches the Executive MBA (EMBA) in Malaysia in cooperation with the Selangor Human Resource Development Centre.
The AIM Conference Center is inaugurated. Its construction was made possible by donations from the Philippine business community, ASEAN, American and European business groups, AIM Boards of Governors and Trustees, and AIM alumni.
2000
AIM becomes the first graduate school of management in the world to receive ISO 14001 Certification.
2001
AIM receives the Beyond Grey Pinstripes 2001 Award for Business School Innovation in Social Impact Management, for incorporating environmental and social impact management topics into its activities, curricula and research.
2003
AIM is awarded the European Quality Label and made a member of the European Foundation for Management Development.
Beyond Grey Pinstripes Survey again gives AIM an award for Excellence in Integration in Core Curriculum.
2004
AIM is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). It is the first graduate business school in Southeast Asia to attain accreditation from the two major international accrediting institutions, AACSB and EFMD.
2005
Victoria S. Licuanan is appointed Dean of the Institute.
Beyond Grey Pinstripes recognizes the W. Sycip Graduate School of Business for its achievements in educating MBA’s to manage business for social, environmental and economic performance.
2006
Francis G. Estrada assumes AIM presidency. He is the first AIM alumnus to become Institute president.
2007
AIM launches the redesigned 16-month MBA. Washington Sycip becomes Chairman Emeritus; Jose Cuisia is now Chairman.
2008
AIM celebrates its 40th year as one of the leading graduate management schools in the region.
2009
Edilberto de Jesús is appointed AIM president.
The Economist ranks AIM the 11th best business school in Asia/Australasia.
The Center for Development Management commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Master in Development Management program.
