Aims & Scopes: Founding Statements from the Chair of DAC

“Founding Statement of the aSSIST Business Review”

Today, we embark on a new intellectual journey that transcends the traditional boundaries between theory and practice.

The aSSIST Business Review (ABR) has been launched to pioneer innovation in management scholarship and to explore the fundamental transformations confronting businesses and societies in our rapidly changing era. More than a collection of academic articles, ABR represents the embodiment of aSSIST University’s philosophy, values, mission, and vision.

● Philosophy and Values of aSSIST University

The philosophical foundation of aSSIST is captured in the acronym IPS — Interesting, Pioneering, and Satisfying. Every member of the aSSIST community is encouraged not merely to perform assigned duties, but to create work that is interesting, pioneering, and socially satisfying. This principle reflects aSSIST’s belief that true management education integrates intellectual curiosity, creative innovation, and social contribution.

The value system of aSSIST is expressed through 4T — eThics, sTorytelling, Technology, and Teamwork. All endeavors rest on the foundation of ethics; individuals must articulate their vision and philosophy through clear storytelling; they should harness cutting-edge technology to lead change; and, ultimately, they must realize greater accomplishments through the power of teamwork. Together, these four principles form the moral and intellectual compass that guides all education and research at aSSIST University.

● Mission and Vision

The mission of aSSIST is to provide lifelong education — from undergraduate to master’s, doctoral, and even Grand Doctor levels — to all nine billion people in the world.
This lifelong education is not remedial; rather, it is designed for social leaders who have already succeeded in their professional spheres and now aspire to elevate their organizations, industries, and nations to the highest global standards.

The vision of aSSIST is expressed in the phrase: “Not the best, but the only one university.” We do not seek merely to be the best, for the best is difficult to attain and even harder to sustain. Instead, aSSIST strives to become the only one — a university that discovers and fulfills a unique and irreplaceable purpose. This is not a pursuit of competition, but of identity; not imitation, but creation.

● Identity and Direction of ABR

ABR serves as an intellectual platform through which the philosophy, values, mission, and vision of aSSIST are academically embodied. Its core identity rests upon Innovation and Convergence.

Innovation does not emerge from hierarchical command but from the voluntary creativity of individuals and communities. It is not a singular act but a systematic, multi-layered process in which diverse innovation projects complement and reinforce one another. True innovation is not achieved through isolated success, but through continuous effort, accumulated insight, and strategic coherence over time.

Convergence is the crucible where new knowledge is born. When technology meets the humanities, theory meets practice, academia meets industry, and the local meets the global, novel perspectives emerge. Topics such as artificial intelligence and big data, digital and energy transition, SDGs and ESG management, entrepreneurship, and corporate innovation cannot be fully understood from a single disciplinary lens.

ABR therefore aims to become a convergent forum of knowledge, connecting diverse perspectives and generating unique, integrative strategies rooted in insight.

● Objectives and Role of ABR

The goals of ABR are clear and multifaceted:

1. A Platform for Innovative Research – ABR seeks to establish a collaborative scholarly community of students, professors, and researchers, thereby realizing aSSIST’s research-oriented educational philosophy.

2. A Practice-Oriented Journal – It provides actionable insights and strategic alternatives that address the real challenges faced by businesses and societies.

3. A Global Forum for Knowledge Exchange – ABR promotes dialogue and cooperation among international scholars, contributing to mutual advancement in both academia and industry.

4. A Guardian of Ethics and Trust – ABR upholds the highest standards of research integrity and develops academic AI utilization guidelines to ensure precision, transparency, and credibility in the age of artificial intelligence.

● Conclusion

The aSSIST Business Review is not merely an academic journal; it is a beacon of knowledge that designs the future. By serving as an intellectual bridge between academia and industry, ABR will offer researchers opportunities for scholarly growth and provide corporations and societies with innovative strategies and practical solutions.

We express our deepest gratitude to the aSSIST community whose dedication and passion have made this publication possible. We look forward to ABR establishing itself as an exemplary platform of innovation and convergence — one that will illuminate new horizons in the study and practice of management worldwide.

September 2025

Dong-sung Cho
Chair, The Development Advisory Committee, aSSIST University