of opportunities to further apply their skills and knowledge in real-world settings and build relationships with industry leaders. Having access to relevant sector knowledge and networking with business leaders is a key part of purposeful teaching, as it allows students to develop their critical thinking skills. By working alongside established industry leaders, the approach also fosters the development of much-needed problem‑solving, analysis and evaluation skills. Emphasising personal transformation However, purposeful teaching doesn’t just concern itself with the realm of hard skills. It also covers crucial soft skills, such as a person’s capacity to engage others, understand motivation and connect to emotions — especially in highly charged situations. In particular, we try to emphasise the importance of understanding one’s own emotions and controlling one’s reactions to unexpected and sometimes turbulent circumstances. In this way, the school aims to equip its students with a new mindset, enriching human connections and supporting the search for meaningful careers. Indeed, recognising that education and the pursuit of an MBA is not just about acquiring knowledge, but also about character development and personal transformation is what purposeful teaching is all about. With this in mind, Polimi’s redesigned MBA was constructed in partnership with The Mind at Work. With a focus on enabling purposeful performance organisations, this consultancy brought an invaluable blend of business and psychological expertise to the table. The new programme focuses on the individual to support students in their journey towards finding purpose, while also allowing them to develop an introspective analysis of what they truly want to achieve, both personally and professionally. Course specifics This approach is reflected in the course curriculum, with students given a clear outline of how programme modules will be taught and what they can expect throughout the year. This includes the MBA’s core topics, which rest on four pillars to give students a holistic view of an organisation and its processes. The first pillar, for example, is called Analysing the business and the context , while the fourth pillar is entitled Realising innovation and transformation . Participants can then choose from four specialisation pathways in the fields of technology, innovation, luxury management and sustainability.
Specifically, these specialised areas encompass global and sustainable management, where students learn about the emerging challenges facing them as they seek to achieve the sustainable expansion of their business. Digital transformation and big data, on the other hand, considers how digital transformation is revolutionising business models and processes. Entrepreneurship, innovation and start-up development demonstrates the challenges of digital and entrepreneurial innovation. Lastly, luxury and design management looks at critical success factors in the luxury and design sectors, analysing all the main value processes with the support of renowned companies. In addition, international exchanges and an extensive range of bootcamps are offered alongside these modules, on subjects that include industry 4.0 and sustainability. Ultimately, collaboration is key and the learning approach rests heavily on conversation and knowledge-sharing, making full use of the differing backgrounds of class members. Peer-group sessions, in particular, are designed to nurture professional and personal growth. In these, small numbers of students participate in training moderated by coaches and experts, typically culminating in a hands-on project that ensures learning can be put into practice.
22 | Ambition | MAY 2024
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