Kaho Watanabe built a successful career in Tokyo in engineering and mergers and acquisitions, but she often felt there was a gap between her professional experience and formal business education.

That gap is finally closed. The Japanese business executive recently traveled to UMass Lowell to celebrate earning her MBA online from the Manning School of Business through its partnership with Abitus, an executive education firm based in Tokyo.

“Through this MBA journey, I was finally able to study business in a more structured and comprehensive way, which gave me greater confidence in my own expertise and decision-making,” says Watanabe, vice president of business operations at Tensegrity Pharma.

Watanabe was among 53 Abitus graduates who made the trip of nearly 7,000 miles to UMass Lowell with their families to take part in Commencement and the Manning School’s MBA hooding ceremony. 

The Abitus partnership, which has connected Japanese working professionals with UMass Lowell’s online MBA program since 2012, allows students to earn an MBA from a U.S.-based university while continuing to live and work in Japan. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of UMass Lowell’s pioneering online education program, which has expanded the university’s reach to students around the world.

For Marie Ham, a senior business development manager at semiconductor company Sandisk, the experience provided both professional growth and valuable personal connections.

“I just feel like I’m a better person now,” says Ham, who grew up living in London, California and Sweden before settling in Tokyo. “I know how to manage time beter. I made great friends.”

Ham says one of the most rewarding parts of the experience was collaborating across a 13-hour time difference with classmates from different industries.

“It’s so cool to hear, ‘Oh, the pharmaceutical industry is doing this, the car industry is doing this,’” Ham says.

Aya Ishida, sales assistant manager at Abitus, says the flexibility of the program is one of its greatest strengths.

“They can get an MBA from UMass Lowell while staying in Japan, which means it doesn’t stop their career or life,” Ishida says. “They continue to study 10 or 20 hours a week continuously for two or three years.”

Takamitsu Hasumi, a Deloitte consultant studying entrepreneurship, appreciated being able to balance his work with the curriculum.

“The courses and professors are fantastic, and I get a lot of information and knowledge from them,” he says.

Associate Professor of Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Tony Gao, who has taught in the Abitus program since its inception, says the students consistently stand out for their dedication and professional accomplishments.

“They are some of the most hardworking students in the MBA program,” Gao says. “Even before they join the program, they have very impressive professional backgrounds.”

The accomplishments of this year’s graduates span a wide range of industries. Watanabe and Sakiko Tamatani, an executive officer at Tokyo-based health care technology company Anaut, were named recipients of the Abitus MBA Award for the highest grade point average. Tamatani’s company develops AI-powered precision mapping technology designed to improve surgical outcomes.

Rist Family Endowed Dean of Business Bertie Greer welcomed the students and their families during a luncheon at the Pulichino Tong Business Center, thanking them for traveling from Japan to celebrate their accomplishments at UML.

“You bring thoughtful perspectives, and you have a global outlook that enriches the experience around everyone,” Greer told the students.

Chancellor Julie Chen says the longtime partnership continues to evolve while strengthening connections between students in Japan and Massachusetts.

“The best part of this is this group is always so excited to come on campus and meet faculty,” Chen says.

The partnership has also expanded beyond online coursework. Last November, Abitus students participated in a study abroad consulting course in Portugal alongside Manning School students, and last summer, students traveled to Lowell for the Global Entrepreneurship Exchange (GE2) program.

For Watanabe, the experience was about more than earning a degree.

“The discussions, teamwork and mutual support throughout the program became something truly meaningful to me,” she says. “I honestly do not think I could have completed this journey alone.”