Ma, 58, started work on Monday and is expected to contribute in several areas, the university added. He will provide advice on research topics and give practical lectures, particularly in the areas of sustainable agriculture and food production. He will also lead workshops on entrepreneurship and innovation. The Tokyo school did not specify what research and data Ma would use to lecture or lead workshops. According to Bloomberg News, Chinese authorities tried to persuade Ma to return to the mainland and help demonstrate state support for the business community. But Ma opted to stay abroad, saying he left his businesses to focus on agricultural technology research.
One of China’s most recognizable business leaders, Ma largely fell into public oblivion after criticizing Chinese regulators in 2020 and Ant Group, an Alibaba subsidiary he also co-founded, was forced to cancel a planned primary public offering of shares. . The billionaire reappeared in Hangzhou, China in March. “It looks like his trading career is over,” said Oshadhi Kumarasiri, an analyst at LightStream Research. of your company.”
When Ma visited a school in Hangzhou to discuss topics such as the AI-powered chatbot, ChatGPT, he said he hoped to return to his old job as a teacher one day. In April, he accepted an honorary professorship at the University of Hong Kong, although plans for public lectures or speeches at that institution have not been made public.
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