Institute for China Studies

Faculty – Richard van Ostende

Dr. Richard van Ostende, DBA

Dr. Van Ostende is the founder of the Institute for China Studies, education and research platform dedicated to providing in-depth insights into China’s business environment, economy, and culture, providing international business-oriented students, working professionals and business executives with the essential knowledge and understanding required to make better-informed business decisions related to business in and with China.

Dr. Van Ostende is the founder of Aegis Management Consulting Group (AMC China), a boutique professional services firm specialized in supporting companies in expanding, innovating, or (re)structuring their businesses in the Greater China region through offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Prior, Dr. Van Ostende served Economic Counselor at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency and has been seconded as Chief Representative at the Netherlands Trade and Investment Office in Nanjing, where he promoted bilateral trade and investments between the Netherlands and China’s Jiangsu Province. In this role, Dr. Van Ostende provided support to Dutch enterprises doing business in China and facilitated trade with Chinese companies.

His other China based roles include Managing Director at a Dutch multinational in the installation systems industry, Finance Director Asia Pacific at a German multinational in the automotive industry, and Finance Manager Asia at a Danish multinational in the maritime industry.

With a distinguished academic background, including a Doctor of Business Administration with honors and a Master of Philosophy in Business Research with distinction, Richard has developed a deep understanding of the Chinese economic and investment landscape. Additionally, Dr. Van Ostende holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Economics and is certified in Higher Education Teaching from Harvard University’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning.

Experience 

  • Founder, Institute for China Studies in Hong Kong, China – present
  • Founder, AMC China in Shanghai and Hong Kong, China – present
  • Managing Director China, Walraven Group, 2022 – 2025
  • Adjunct Professor in Management at Monarch Business School in Zug, Switzerland, 2020 – 2023
  • Chief Representative at NBSO China in Nanjing, China, 2018 – 2022
  • Finance Director Asia Pacific at Formel D Group in Shanghai, China, 2014 – 2018
  • Finance Manager Asia at Vestas air coil in Suzhou, China, 2012 – 2014
  • Senior Finance Officer at Netherlands Embassy in Beijing, China, 2007 – 2012

Educational background

  • Doctoral degree (DBA), Business Administration, 2019, With Honors
  • Master’s degree (M.Phil.), Business Research, 2017, With Distinction
  • Master’s degree (MBA), Business Administration, 2011
  • Bachelor’s degree (B.Ec.), Financial Services Management, 2006

Professional qualifications 

  • Higher Education Teaching Certificate, Harvard University
  • Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
  • Mandarin Chinese (HSK 4); Confucius Institute

Designations

  • Ambassador for Investment Promotion, Yangzhou Municipal Government, China
  • International Friendship Ambassador, Nanjing Municipal Government, China
  • Jiangsu Province Youth Friendship Ambassador, Jiangsu Province Foreign Affairs Office, China
  • Strategic Partner for Investment Promotion, Nanjing Municipal, Jianye District government, China
  • Ambassador for Investment Promotion, Nanjing Municipal, Gulou District government, China

Publications

Books

  • A Comprehensive Guide to Foreign Investment in China. Uitgeverij Boekscout, The Netherlands.
  • A Comprehensive Guide to Individual Income Tax in China. Uitgeverij Boekscout, The Netherlands.
  • Accelerating Business Expansion Throughout China via Branch Office Establishment. Uitgeverij Boekscout, The Netherlands.
  • Entering the Chinese Market via a Representative Office. Uitgeverij Boekscout, The Netherlands.
  • China Secondment: Tax Implications of Cross-border Labour Dispatch. Uitgeverij Boekscout, The Netherlands.
  • China CFO: Optimizing Profit Repatriation and Cash Allocation. Uitgeverij Boekscout, The Netherlands.
  • China Trademarks. Uitgeverij Boekscout, The Netherlands.
  • China Dealmakers. Uitgeverij Boekscout, The Netherlands.
  • China HR. Uitgeverij Boekscout, The Netherlands.
  • Hong Kong Start-ups. Uitgeverij Boekscout, The Netherlands.

 Academic publications

  • Doctoral Dissertation (2019). Foreign Direct Investment into China: Determinants of The Strategic Decision-Making Process on Market Entry by Dutch Companies. Monarch Management Review.
  • Understanding China’s Foreign Investment Management System and Negative Lists, Monarch Research Paper Series, Vol 1, Issue 1, 2019.

Professional  publications

  • China’s new Foreign Investment Law: from Promulgation to Implementation, EURObiz: Periodical of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, 2019.
  • China’s Draft Foreign Investment Law: Foundation for Further Improvement of the Foreign Business Landscape? EURObiz: Periodical of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, 2019.

Languages

  • Dutch (native), English (bilingual) and Mandarin Chinese (professional working)