Alibaba Group co-founder Jack Ma turns up in Japan as college professor

Alibaba Group Holding co-founder Jack Ma is joining the University of Tokyo’s Tokyo College as a visiting professor, according to a profile page on the university’s website.

Ma, 58, begins the new position on May 1 and is expected to contribute in several areas, the school said. He will provide advice on research topics and conduct research, especially in sustainable agriculture and food production; he will also give seminars about entrepreneurship and innovation.

One of China’s most recognisable business leaders, Ma largely dropped out of public sight after he criticised Chinese regulators in 2020 and Ant Group, an Alibaba affiliate he also co-founded, had to pull its planned initial public offering.