According to a report in the South China Morning Post, Jack Ma has been appointed as a visiting professor at the graduate school of the University of Kitakyushu in Fukuoka, Japan.
Ma’s role will be to give lectures to students on entrepreneurship and leadership, and he is expected to make occasional visits to the university over the next few years.
This is not the first time that Jack Ma has taken on a teaching role. Prior to founding Alibaba, he was an English teacher in Hangzhou, China, and he has also given lectures at universities and business schools around the world.
Jack Ma disappeared from public life in October 2020, shortly after he made critical remarks about Chinese regulators and state-owned banks. His whereabouts were unknown for several months, leading to speculation about his fate.
Ma eventually resurfaced in January 2021, and has since made a few public appearances. However, he has kept a low profile and has not been as vocal as he was before his disappearance.
The University of Kitakyushu is a public university located in Fukuoka, Japan. It is known for its programs in engineering, environmental science, and urban design.
Jack Ma’s appointment as a visiting professor at the university was reportedly made in March 2021, but only came to light recently.
According to the university, Ma’s role is to “contribute to the development of human resources who will play an active role in global society, including Japan and China.”
The university also said that Ma’s lectures will focus on “entrepreneurship and leadership for creating a sustainable society.”
It is not clear whether Jack Ma will receive any compensation for his teaching role at the University of Kitakyushu.
The move has been seen by some as an indication that Jack Ma is looking to keep a low profile and avoid controversy, following his run-ins with Chinese regulators and his disappearance from public life in 2020.
Ma’s disappearance led to speculation about his relationship with the Chinese government, and raised concerns about the state of entrepreneurship and free speech in China. However, he has not made any public comments on these issues since his return to public life earlier this year.