《113-2_GHRM507 & IB612》Connecting Academic Learning with Industry Practice: MBA Students Visit Lung Soon Ocean Group

On April 9, 2025, students from the Consulting Methods and Practices course, offered jointly by the GHRM MBA and IBMBA programs, had the valuable opportunity to visit the headquarters of Lung Soon Ocean Group. Under the guidance of Professors Chien-Yuan Sher and Heidi Chang, the course aims to bridge theory and practice by providing students with real-world consulting exposure. During the visit, participants engaged in in-depth discussions with the company’s leadership team and gained firsthand insights into the operations of a global leader in the harvesting, processing, and distribution of premium tuna and seafood products.

This field visit not only enhanced students' practical learning experiences but also initiated a new phase of academic-industry collaboration, fostering future opportunities for co-creation and problem-solving between graduate students and the enterprise.

Lung Soon Group, a well-established enterprise located near Cianjhen Harbor, has long been recognized for its excellence in the seafood industry. As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen its internal operations and talent development strategies, the group presented a practical consulting challenge to students: how to improve the effectiveness of its employee training program and design a fair and sustainable salary structure for its sushi brand, Soon Yi Sushi. This case not only reflects real-world organizational concerns but also offers students the opportunity to apply consulting frameworks to address human resource and operational management issues in a dynamic business context.

One of the key highlights of the field trip was the enthusiastic and active participation of the students. They posed insightful questions related to the consulting project and demonstrated a strong interest in Lung Soon Group’s environmental initiatives, operational strategies, sustainability practices, and employee management policies. This dynamic exchange not only enriched the students’ learning experience but also offered the company fresh perspectives and creative input from a new generation of talent.

During the latter part of the visit, students engaged in deeper discussions with Lung Soon Group’s representatives, allowing them to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the company's current challenges. These conversations laid a solid foundation for the development of thoughtful and feasible consulting recommendations, which the students will deliver in the coming weeks.

This field trip forms a core component of the Consulting Methods and Practices course, which is designed to bridge theory with real-world business contexts and enhance students’ problem-solving abilities. The success of this collaborative initiative was made possible by the openness and engagement of Lung Soon Group, and the proactive attitude of the students—together exemplifying a meaningful integration of academic learning and practical application.

Written by Ivy Chang (Provided by IBMBA and GHRM MBA)