The Future of Business Schools: Purpose, Action, and Impact

The chapters present views and suggestions of business school professors, researchers, and leaders from different contexts and countries, as well as ideas for business school stakeholders on topics from program structures, course content, and teaching materials to research topics. In addition to examples of innovations, tools are offered to help universities navigate complexity and prepare for uncertainty.

About the Book:

Are business schools on the wrong track? For many years, business schools enjoyed rising enrollments, positive media attention, and growing prestige in the business world. However, due to the disruption of COVID-19, many previously ignored issues relating to MBA programs resurfaced. As a result, MBA programs now face lower enrollments and intense criticism for needing to prepare future business leaders and pay attention to essential topics like ethics, sustainability, and diversity and inclusion.

The book The Future of Business Schools discusses these issues in three critical areas: complexity, sustainability, and destiny. How do we prepare students for a new and complex world? How can business schools focus on the planet's sustainability, and how will they shape a better future for everyone? The chapters present views and suggestions of business school professors, researchers, and leaders from different contexts and countries, as well as ideas for business school stakeholders on topics from program structures, course content, and teaching materials to research topics. In addition to examples of innovations, tools are offered to help universities navigate complexity and prepare for uncertainty.

ICSB Immediate Past Chair Review:

A Visionary Exploration: The Future of Business Schools

Imagine taking a telescope and pointing it toward the stars. Through its lens, you see not just the dazzling sparkle of distant constellations but also the vast expanse of the universe. It allows you to traverse space and time, uncovering the mysteries of the cosmos while contemplating the future. This book serves as a telescope but examines business schools' intricate past, present, and future instead of exploring the heavens.

Guided by Rico Baldegger's expert editorial leadership and a team of distinguished contributors, this book explores the forces shaping business education. It delves into the evolution of business schools, their current challenges, and their potential futures, providing readers with a roadmap to understand and navigate the ever-changing academic and professional landscapes.

This is not just another book but a clarion call for introspection and innovation. It gives voice to faculty perspectives, shedding light on their experiences, insights, and aspirations for the future of business education. Doing so bridges the gap between academic leadership and the faculty at the heart of these institutions, making it a vital resource for business school deans, educational administrators, and policymakers.

The book goes beyond theoretical discourse to address the pressing questions facing business schools today. How can they remain relevant in an age of rapid technological advancement? What role should they address global challenges like sustainability, diversity, and ethics? How can they balance the demands of academic rigor with the need for practical, real-world impact? The answers offered in this book are grounded in deep research, practical wisdom, and forward-thinking vision.