INTERVIEW
I n January 2021, UPF Barcelona School of Management, Pompeu Fabra University (UPF-BSM), officially received accreditation from AMBA. Since the School was founded in 1993, UPF-BSM has worked to build international partnerships and networks – but equally, it has focused on building social responsibility and culture, notably by encouraging its students to study classical literature as part of their MBA studies. Ambition spoke to Oriol Amat, Dean of UPF-BSM and its Director of International Relations and Accreditations, Jordi Rey, to find out how the School nurtures an appreciation of the humanities and how this can widen the perspectives of tomorrow’s business leaders. What do you think differentiates UPF Barcelona School of Management? Oriol Amat (OA): Our School is focused on ‘management’, rather than just ‘business’. This means that apart from typical business programmes, our portfolio includes programmes and research related to public management, health management and cultural organisations, among other subject areas. The School also has a strong
programmes, research, publications, and events. To give an example of the cultural dimension’s importance at UPF-BSM, each year we give a classic piece of literature as a Christmas present to all students, faculty and staff – The Tempest by William Shakespeare this year, The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli last year, Candide by Voltaire two years ago. UPF-BSM also has a blog, ‘Micromégas’, that is named after the Voltaire novella and which is devoted to culture. You’re keen for students to understand and appreciate classic literature – why is this important in aspiring business leader? OA: Good leaders read a lot, and we feel that there is a lot to learn in classic literature. Reading the classics provides a lot of perspectives that allow a person to better understand other people (co-workers, managers, customers, suppliers, bankers, trade unions, and so on) and to gain a broader outlook, empathy and assertiveness. Another outcome of reading is that leaders improve their communication skills. What are the biggest challenges facing international Business Schools? Jordi Rey (JR): I foresee two types of challenges for Business Schools. The first type is about facing what we already know. The second type is about being prepared for what it is to come,
responsibility and ethics. Finally, in alignment with the wider Pompeu Fabra University’s objective of generating and transmitting new knowledge about the concept of ‘planetary wellbeing’, UPF-BSM thinks that leaders must be prepared with a global vision and social commitment in a public-private setting. These competencies will be necessary to cope with the challenges that we are going to face in the coming years to improve people, organisations, countries, and the planet. Accreditation plays a crucial role in ensuring the implementation of our value proposition and having our organisational management systems ready to overcome any unexpected challenges. AMBA, for example, will help us to have our EMBA and MSc in management programmes more prepared for the current global challenges, and those which are yet to come. UPF-BSM is renowned for having a strong focus on humanities and culture. How would you define ‘culture’ and how does the School cultivate this?
OA: ‘Culture’ is a way of life – it encompasses knowledge, arts, laws, beliefs, capabilities, and
the customs of a society. As French author, André Maurois, said: ‘Culture is what remains after having forgotten what was learned.’ The humanities and culture are present in all of the School’s activities that take place during an academic year:
commitment to culture and the humanities – all students and programmes have some activities and courses related to culture and the humanities as well as to social
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