LATIN AMERICA CONFERENCE 2022
demands of the future. In addition, they need to equip their faculty for success as their roles expand to meet changing expectations. Making the future fit for purpose Future-proofing the higher learning experience is crucial, argued Guerra, especially given that there is a generational change among Gen Z. This demographic increasingly has different priorities, such as seeking purpose-driven work, being hyper-connected digitally but socially isolated, valuing flexibility over salary, plus being proactive and resourceful when it comes to achieving learning outcomes. “Forget the labels”, appealed the Imperial College executive, adding that the sector must capitalise on a great opportunity “to further what we do” in terms of student impact, academic excellence and thought leadership. She also referenced the application of disruptive technologies, including AI-enhanced capabilities, hyflex and multiverse classrooms, experiential learning in virtual reality, tools such as gamification and cutting-edge platforms that adapt to both student and faculty requirements. She encouraged schools to create digitally enhanced environments that foster intellectual pursuits, including advanced pedagogy to facilitate novel educational experiences, the creation of a connected community, offering a seamless integration between digital and physical campuses and the external environment, and digital and blended modules to introduce personalisation into the curriculum. Senior management must also consider using data to drive, refine and optimise the student experience across such areas as recruitment and admission, student analytics, alumni management and employer engagement. The importance of partnerships Guerra finished by saying that it’s not advisable for business educators to go it alone and used the term ‘friendpetitors’ to indicate the importance of a partnership approach. She provided the example of eight European business schools putting aside their rivalries to join forces and offer free climate training. Schools must forge alliances along the lines of global association FOME (Future of Management Education), focusing on collaborative learning, ongoing advancement of quality, lifelong education and measuring results, plus devising differentiated offerings and setting up commercial collaborations. The industry should work with corporates and start-ups to define collaboration opportunities that build on each business model and revolutionise the sector. “Go beyond your brand needs to achieve the true mobilisation of higher education” was Guerra’s closing rallying cry to delegates. Concluding with a Q&A AMBA & BGA CEO Andrew Main Wilson was back on stage on the third and final day of the proceedings to conclude
Leila Guerra from Imperial College Business School identified the kind of innovations necessary to future-proof the industry
Innovations in a hybrid world Leila Guerra, vice-dean of education at
Imperial College Business School, began by attempting to define how the sector describes itself. She pointed to analysis of the mission statements of the leading 40 schools globally to identify the most commonly used words: the top five were business, research, world, student and educate. In order to redefine how business schools regard themselves, she advocated that deans and directors focus on a number of areas: transformation, impact, the global stage, connections, leadership, the future, original thinking, empowerment and how best to tackle the world’s major issues. Guerra used the acronym, ‘Adapt’, first coined by Blair Sheppard, global leader of strategy at PWC and founder of Duke Corporate Education, to outline the macro trends currently transforming the business world. The first ‘a’ stands for asymmetry, as in an increasing wealth disparity and the erosion of the middle class, while ‘d’ spells disruption, referring to the pervasive nature of technology and its impact on individuals and the environment. The second ‘a ‘is for age demographics, meaning both that fewer opportunities will be available for young workers and there is increasing pressure on the pension system. Next up is ‘p’ for polarisation, a breakdown in the global consensus with the rise of nationalism and populism, and lastly ‘t’ represents trust – the declining confidence in society’s primary institutions. She then turned her attention to a report compiled by US- based body AACSB (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), which states that in order to plan for the future of business education, schools must evaluate existing partnerships and create new ones so they are “solution-driven and relevant to both student and industry needs”. They should also strategically invest in technologies that serve diversified learner requirements and address the educational
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