NEWS & INSIGHTS
UCL School of Management has redesigned its MBA with an emphasis on flexibility. Dubbed the UCL Flex MBA, the programme now offers a choice between hybrid and fully online modes. The new hybrid option allows participants to study core courses in-person at UCL’s Canary Wharf campus in a modular format, comprising periodic, intensive four-day sessions held between Thursdays and Sundays. MBA electives and the programme’s capstone project continue to take place online. The move coincides with UCL SOM’s recent decision to expand its presence at One Canada Square in Canary Wharf. The school will soon occupy six floors of the iconic London landmark, as part of the UK school’s plans to enrol 1,000 more students by 2027. “Our students benefit from the Wharf’s diverse neighbourhood, with direct access to industry connections and collaborations with businesses in the area. Growing our presence here reinforces our mission to lead the future of business and society through cutting-edge research and education,” stated UCL SOM director Davide Ravasi. The revamped programme is designed to be completed over two years, but will allow students to take anywhere up to five years, if desired. In a further nod to the needs and preferences of today’s working professionals, the school is also implementing a module-by-module payment option. The current UCL MBA cohort has an average of 12 years’ prior work experience and numbers 63 students, of which 49 per cent are female. Alongside the core and elective course components of the programme, the school runs two extracurricular immersion programmes on a theme chosen for its real-world relevance each year for both current students and alumni, both in London and at an international location. It also offers access to the MBA Labs, a platform for connecting students and faculty with alumni and industry and a winner of the AMBA & BGA award for lifelong learning in 2024. TBD REDESIGNED MBA COMBINES FLEXIBILITY WITH OFFER OF IN-CAMPUS INTERACTIONS SCHOOL : UCL School of Management, UK
STUDY HIGHLIGHTS GAPS IN LATIN AMERICA’S ADOPTION OF AI
SCHOOL : Universidad de los Andes School of Management, Colombia
While AI adoption has been gaining speed among companies in Latin America, governance and accountability around its use and implementation is lagging behind. This is the central finding of a new study conducted by Universidad de los Andes School of Management, in partnership with the IDB Lab’s fAIr LAC initiative and NTT data. Mirroring the experience of other regions of the world, the study highlights the challenge of ensuring that AI adoption comes with an appropriate consideration of ethics, inclusivity and sustainability. For example, it identified a significant gap between technical capacity and social commitment, with companies scoring far higher for their level of ‘AI maturity’ in relation to data privacy than for their current showing with regards to social and environmental wellbeing or diversity and equity. It also found that adoption among SMEs is often “chaotic” and lacking in solid accountability structures. The study puts forward a roadmap for making AI an engine of inclusive development in Latin America, with four main recommendations. One concerns regional standards and the need for a common responsible AI framework in the region. Better SME governance through the use of accessible oversight tools is another. In terms of public policies, meanwhile, the study advises the promotion of local talent and infrastructure with an inclusive approach. Lastly, it emphasises the importance of generating data that enables the continuous measurement of progress between sectors and countries. “We call for unity to ensure that technology is transparent and has the support of the public. Supporting our companies to adopt AI ethically is not optional; it is the way to ensure that these tools truly benefit Latin American societies, as our region deserves,” declared Universidad de los Andes School of Management professor Veneta Andonova. EB
Ambition • ISSUE 1 • 2026 9
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online