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FORMAT B: PANEL DISCUSSIONS Deans and directors from Business Schools, alongside
Are we there yet? How far are Business Schools from achieving diversity and equity? In order to advance fair and equal business practices, the leaders leaving business education must represent demographics as diverse as their future customers and communities. Challenges remain in terms of developing cultures in higher education which are inclusive in terms of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, social class and nationality. We are moving in the right direction, but the road to achieving this goal is long. AMBA research shows that, despite there being continued gender inequality in terms of MBA applications and enrolments, the proportion of women applying for, and enrolling onto, AMBA- accredited programmes has increased by approximately seven percentage points and six percentage points, respectively, over the past seven years. But how can the ultimate goal of creating truly inclusive, equal, and diverse Business School cultures, be achieved? A hot topic (that’s getting hotter): climate change, sustainability, and business education’s responsibility In late 2019, the International Energy Agency stated – quite simply – that the world’s climate policies wouldn't be enough to end the upward march of record energy emissions rising beyond 2040 without a ‘grand coalition’ of governments and investors. The global energy watchdog also warned that the growth of renewables would not be sufficient to put a ceiling on the energy sector’s emissions before 2040. The headline: governments are not doing enough; it’s up to business and society to take action – and fast. What is the position Business Schools need to adopt in the midst of an environmental crisis? AMBA & BGA research conducted in 2020 reveals a strong, shared opinion among Business School leaders that more has to be done, and that time is running out, to devise and implement practical solutions to the crisis the planet is facing. This hot topic is literally – as well as figuratively – getting hotter and there is no more time to debate the issues,
‘Collaboration between Business Schools is vital in facing shared regional and global threats’
MBA alumni, employers, campaigners, and other industry experts will join a variety of panel discussions that aim to bring as much opinion, discussion and insight as possible to the AMBA & BGA Global Conference 2021. Here are some highlights of what to expect:
Spearheading change and igniting innovation: how Business Schools are paving the way forward in an uncertain world This session brings together a group of pioneers in the field of Business School innovation to discuss the trends that higher education decision makers need to keep ahead of. They will delve into issues, such as: digital transformation and the future of business education; disruption in business education; and evolving programmes and course delivery to reflect the changing needs of students and the future needs of employers. Panellists will also outline their post-Covid-19 predictions, in terms of how Business Schools must future-proof themselves for a ‘new normal’ and continuing volatility. Connecting the world: building collaborations and strengthening global alliances in Latin America and beyond Collaboration between Business Schools is vital in facing shared regional and global threats and opportunities that come with uncertain times. This session, featuring an esteemed panel of deans from across Latin America, will explore how regional and international partnerships, as well as informal collaboration, is fuelling the survival, innovation and success of Business Schools across both Latin America and the world as a whole. Using impact measurement to reinvent business education This session will bring together deans from across the world to share their expertise
on how impact measurement can help Business Schools deliver further value to their students and alumni. The panel will share examples of how an outcome-based approach to education and a focus on key stakeholders can allow for reinventing the way courses are taught, delivered, and experienced. The panel will also outline some of the initiatives in which they’ve engaged since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic to deliver an enhanced experience for their stakeholders. Shaping entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship: the role of the Business School in inspiring a generation of disruptors The trend for Business School graduates moving to set up their own businesses, riding the gig economy, and disrupting sectors continues to grow. But in the wake of the pandemic, change will be a constant and this means that the spirit of entrepreneurship is as important in large corporate entities as it is in the micro-enterprises that look set to threaten the commercial status quo. In this session, Business School alumni that have set up organisations, social enterprises, businesses and charitable projects share their insights on the hurdles they’ve overcome, and how Business Schools can improve their work with innovative disruptors, enhance their entrepreneurship offerings and spark a zest for enterprise in their cohorts.
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