A new era in education
W ho are the Gen Zers? Precise definitions vary, but Generation Z typically includes those born between 1996 and 2010. Given that the average age of students on top‑ranking MBAs ranges between 27 and 30, this puts Gen Zers firmly in the frame as likely applicants for MBA programmes in around six years’ time. So how – if at all – will their experiences and expectations impact executive education? For Dr Anastasia Kynighou, MBA director at Manchester Metropolitan University Business School, the key characteristic of Gen Zers is their relationship to digital technology; as she notes: “we are dealing with people who have lived their entire lives in a digital space”. However, digitalisation has also created an expectation of instant gratification because “this generation can get what they want straight away, largely due to access to the internet and other apps on their smartphones”. This has implications for education, according to Kynighou, as students are less accustomed to reading a textbook and taking time to evaluate the content.
In the first of a three-part series on Gen Z and the 2030 MBA, Kortext’s Melissa Bowden speaks to Manchester Metropolitan University’s Dr Anastasia Kynighou to explore what lies ahead for executive education
34 | Ambition | SEPTEMBER 2024
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