INTERVIEW
We draw significantly on domains such as neuroscience, flow state, cognition and psychology to inform our instructional design in teaching and learning
Service (EaaS) is appearing on the radar. These challenges are further amplified against the backdrop of management and leadership challenges such as the abuse of power, unethical practices and a disregard for matters of sustainability.” How has Covid-19 changed your school’s strategy and what further changes should we expect to see in the year ahead? “In anticipation of the lockdown measures, our school was positioned to transfer seamlessly its contact-learning students to online without losing any time in students’ study progress. Our existing online capabilities were our saving grace in realising this efficient and effective transition. “Based on our experiences, our experimentation and successes in relation to the changing external environment, strategic deliberations ensued regarding positioning the business school as an entirely online institution. “By capitalising on our distinctive online capability, we will empower people to become more than they dared imagine in their businesses, careers, professions and life, unlocking their potential through trusted and leading online learning journeys. In this way, we can help South Africa and the region’s economy to grow and prosper, as well as to strengthen its social fabric. “Further changes in the year ahead include establishing MBS as a trusted and leading online business and management educator of choice in southern Africa; transitioning to a new cutting-edge online platform to maintain our online
“For example, there are evident paradoxes between eliminating fossil fuels and the manufacturing of alternative, or renewable, energy sources such as solar energy and wind turbine energy from a holistic environmental stewardship perspective. An industrial-sized wind turbine needs as much as three metric tonnes of copper and permanent magnets composed of rare metals, such as neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium. “Solar cells use a range of rare metals including silicon, indium, gallium, selenium, cadmium and tellurium (by-products from the refining of base metals such as copper, nickel and zinc). The manufacturing of batteries adds to the conundrum as it needs nickel, cobalt and lithium. “In this context, there are three issues that come to mind: environmental degradation due to mining activities; use of fossil fuels to extract, refine and transport these rare mineral and metals; and the pollution created by decommissioned wind turbines and solar panels that find their way into landfills. “In other words, in the design of our learning experiences that integrate ethics, sustainability and environmental stewardship, how do we also confront ourselves and our students with complex (as opposed to ‘complicated’) issues in creating solutions to wicked problems? “So much is dependent on a leader’s ability to collect and process information from others. As social, political beings, humans rely on one another for all sorts of testimony, including promises, opinions, advice, support, criticism and descriptions,
competitive advantage in the local market; and developing our ‘new’ MBA to ensure relevance and addressing contemporary industry needs.” How apparent are the effects of climate change in the minds of students and the wider public in South Africa? What should business schools be doing more of, in terms of raising awareness and generating solutions in this regard? “My view is that the effects of climate change in the minds of students and the wider public in South Africa are very much on a par with the rest of the world. Generally speaking, I believe business schools across the globe are doing quite well in terms of raising awareness of climate change based on what I experience at academic and accreditation body conferences, webinars, colloquia, conventions and exhibitions. “At global and regional events of the PRME, for example, climate change features prominently in the discussions, presentations and debates. PRME sharing information on progress (SIP) reports also indicate how business schools are emphasising these matters in their teaching, learning, research and community engagements. “It is in generating solutions and addressing uncomfortable truths where I believe business schools should do more, and I seldom see this on agendas. In my view, responsible management education also means confronting the paradoxes and potential unintended consequences of evangelising particular solutions to problems.
Ambition | MARCH 2023 | 21
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