FROM THE CEO
CREATING A CARING COLLEGIATE COMMUNITY
AMBA & BGA CEO Andrew Main Wilson explores the ongoing challenge to business schools to develop inclusive spaces and reduce feelings of isolation for students studying remotely
T
he Covid-19 pandemic gave rise to numerous challenges in business, but it was also a major catalyst for positive change. This is perhaps nowhere more evident than in
to focus on, including feelings of student isolation and identifying the means to ensure that all members of the MBA cohort interact and engage. As in-person learning has been replaced in many instances with online teaching, this new-age scenario, while technologically advanced, can put at risk the mental wellbeing of the student cohort. By creating a safe online environment where students can freely communicate, socialise and speak with openness, business schools can help reduce loneliness and increase student satisfaction. In a world full of political and economic di culties, routinely clocking into an online session and warmly inviting conversation can create certainty in the lives of MBA students, showcasing empathy and social responsibility. In fact, some 63 per cent of business school leaders believe students struggle with feelings of isolation when they work online. This report shows that those same leaders are confident in their schools’ ability to create a sense of community, develop inclusive spaces,
offer a valuable online experience and foster student engagement. Elsewhere, our findings show business schools are invested in both the campus experience and the online one. While a third of schools say they will allocate the majority of their funds towards campus initiatives over the next five years, more than half (52 per cent) report that the majority of their school’s funds will be allocated equally between campus and online initiatives. Furthermore, based on the results of our survey, management teams at business schools appear generally happy with the changes they have made in response to the pandemic. While these schools have adjusted to the new normal alongside their students with a great deal of success, there still seems to be scope to develop a range of novel initiatives and tools to help address ongoing challenges, as schools seek to continuously improve their academic offerings.
the teaching sector, where novel approaches to pedagogy were introduced in order to respond to these challenges. The latest piece of research from AMBA, conducted in association with educational content and technology provider Cengage, shows how that innovation has continued to flourish. During the pandemic, we saw a massive rise in the use of digital resources and such tools and hybrid modes of teaching continue to grow today. Alongside these changes within the learning landscape, student expectations have also evolved. One important consideration that has arisen is the need to create a sense of community on campus at a time when many students are studying remotely. The shift to hybrid teaching has highlighted a number of important areas
38 | Ambition SEPTEMBER 2023
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