The report offers a world view of management education while providing a series of recommendations for leaders in academia, business and government.
Among the many issues identified, the report expresses concerns about the world's ability to support the growing demand for quality management education in rapidly developing and transitioning countries. According to Dan LeClair, GFME's lead researcher and AACSB's chief knowledge officer, "we expect the most growth in regions where business schools are relatively new, the models and approaches are not widely understood internationally, and quality assurance is often weakest."
To address the pressing challenges identified, the report calls for numerous global efforts including: advocacy for quality assurance for the benefit of students and employers; stronger collaboration among business schools; gathering of more data and information about management education; and deeper engagement of business and government leaders to envision the future needs of organizations and societies.
A joint venture between the two associations of business schools, AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), and EFMD (The European Foundation for Management Development), GFME questions how management education will be affected by powerful global forces, including accelerating economic integration, demographic shifts, advances in information technology, and emerging priorities related to social responsibility, governance, and sustainability. It also examines recent developments in the education arena, such as the rapid expansion and increasing diversity of providers, harmonization of degree structures, increasing student mobility, and rising shortages of doctoral business school faculty. These two sections of the report provide a comprehensive survey of the management education landscape.
With its report, GFME also intends to provide a foundation for constructive dialogue, collaboration, and investments in the future of management education. "It is essential that we recognize and build upon the mutual dependencies of businesses, governments, and business schools" said Howard Thomas, GFME chair and dean at Warwick Business School. "This report helps each of us to rise above our regional interests and invest in management education for success in this rapidly changing, and integrating global environment."
AACSB International is an association of more than 1,100 educational institutions, businesses and other organizations in 70 countries that are focused on advancement of business education worldwide.
EFMD is an international membership organization based in Brussels, Belgium. With more than 650 member organizations from academia, business, public service and consultancy in 75 countries, EFMD provides a forum for information, research, networking and debate on innovation and best practice in management development.
