A new era in education: part 3 In the third of our four-part series focusing on how best to adapt to the potential needs of Gen Z MBA students, Kortext’s Melissa Bowden speaks to Dr Anna Plechatá Krausová at Newton University about digital transformation and the importance of developing soft skills A ccording to Anna Plechatá Krausová, chancellor of Newton University in Prague, there are two elements to consider when predicting the impact of Gen Z on MBA programmes. “We are already seeing emerging trends from undergraduate students,” she notes. First, Gen Zers are technologically driven and want “to consume everything through technology, ideally a smartphone, or at least to have a digital option”. In education, they’ve been accustomed to hybrid (or even online-only) courses where they can learn at their own pace. However, “at work you have to start at a certain time, plus you need to deal with challenges as they arise,” observes Plechatá. While MBA candidates have workplace experience, “they may be missing real-world educational training, so we must ensure there is some in-person classroom experience to align what they want and what we think they need to excel at work”.
Second, Gen Zers have “a bigger focus on values”. Plechatá explains that this is less challenging “because we want to make sure our values and those of our students align”. However, it’s potentially more difficult to marry Gen Z’s value-driven approach with how companies function. Gen Zers are keen to make a positive impact and use their values to change business for the better, but Plechatá explains that “they have to be willing to start with the first step and understand the realpolitik of business before they can change anything”. She adds: “They also need to achieve some professional success before their values can have a significant impact.” Digital transformation in the world of work Gen Z’s preference for technology is not just about the mode of delivery by which they learn, but also the skills demanded by the labour market. “The average Gen Z student will want to be prepared for the ongoing digital transformation in the world of work,” states Plechatá. To meet this need, Newton University has launched an MBA in AI for business leaders. “We don’t expect them to understand the actual technology behind AI,” she says, “but we want them to be expert users so they can implement it successfully in their post‑MBA career.” This means understanding how to use AI effectively, as well as how to train AI tools to accomplish time-saving tasks. These skills will be crucial for Gen Zers to succeed in a competitive
34 | Ambition | NOVEMBER 2024
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