Ensuring long-term success for MBA graduates

With the emergence of modern technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), universities are now faced with the task of equipping business graduates with the knowledge and skills required to ensure long-term employability. A Times Higher Education webinar, held in partnership with Perlego, brought together a panel of experts to explore how MBA programmes can be responsive to industry trends to help students remain competitive throughout their careers. 

Martin Lukavec, programme leader at the London School of Business and Finance, told the panel that asynchronous learning and alternative formats such as video lectures help his institution redirect time to students, which enhances the value of MBA programmes. Lukavec suggested that traditional academic components such as writing skills have lost some of their relevance due to the advancements in generative AI. Educators should encourage students to craft nuanced and creative arguments that hold practical significance. 

“The future of the MBA curriculum is not teaching technology. It’s more about how to use technology properly [alongside] soft skills,” said Rafał Mrówka, director of the MBA Programme Office at SGH Warsaw School of Economics. According to the panel, institutions should focus on cultivating soft skills, such as communication, critical thinking and problem-solving, in MBA students. “We need to look at core skills,” said Nick Snowden, director of MBA and digital learning at the University of Bradford. “What we teach in class, in terms of content, will be out of date by the time [students] graduate.” 

AI might make some jobs redundant but there will always be a person behind the machine who is prompting it, said Patti Brown, former senior executive director for academic affairs and programme delivery for MBA programmes at HEC Paris. Business schools must, therefore, teach empathy and people skills. “The thing that’s in common with MBA graduates, whether they graduate today or in 10 years, is that they will be dealing with people.” 

Wendy Loretto, dean of the University of Edinburgh Business School, cited adaptability, resilience and innovation as the key skills that MBA graduates will need to remain employable in the future. “Using AI to promote innovation is going to be key for us,” said Loretto.

Due to the vast network of content available to students, multidisciplinary subjects such as business would benefit from the adoption of AI, said Luke Pennington, regional sales lead at Perlego. Pennington outlined innovative uses of technology in the context of business education. As universities subscribe to different kinds of repositories and resources, having an AI-based search capable of indexing this content will be an exciting use of AI, said Pennington. 

Perlego is currently testing a feature called deep search to enable universities to diversify the curriculum and move away from linear models of resourcing. “Many universities are saying, ‘this foundational business text is the same whether it’s from this person, this company or this company. We just want students to have the agency to find this content’. And with deep search, they will,” said Pennington.

Diversifying the curriculum to incorporate inclusive and accessible resources is an important element of designing strong and adaptable MBA programmes, the panel agreed. “At Perlego, this is an area that is very much on our radar. We’re looking for ways to solve this,” said Pennington. This involves moving away from the traditional way of resourcing from linear reading lists to more broad resource lists, which include alternate formats, inclusive materials and opportunities for experiential learning.

The panel:

• Patti Brown, former senior executive director for academic affairs and programme delivery for MBA programmes, HEC Paris
• Wendy Loretto, dean, University of Edinburgh Business School
• Martin Lukavec, programme leader, London School of Business and Finance
• Rafał Mrówka, director of the MBA Programme Office, SGH Warsaw School of Economics
• Luke Pennington, regional sales lead, Perlego
• Sreethu Sajeev, branded content deputy editor, Times Higher Education (chair)
• Nick Snowden, director of MBA and digital learning, University of Bradford

Watch the webinar on-demand above or on the THE Connect YouTube channel.

Find out more about Perlego.