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An Important Opportunity for Graduate Management Education
The Bologna Accord charts a bold new course for European higher education and will open more doors for graduate learning. Although it is unclear how various institutions will respond to the challenges posed by the Accord, it is evident that schools across Europe will need to become more market-oriented if they are to survive and thrive in the post-Bologna era.
Business schools are well placed to benefit from the changes in Europe’s educational system. They already embody many of the characteristics Bologna seeks to promote: comparability and compatibility across degrees, education with labor-market relevance, and a mobile staff and student body. As a result, business schools should be able to make key contributions to the development of a world-class educational system that promotes European competitiveness. In return, the MBA has the opportunity to become an integral part of national qualification frameworks across Europe—and formally take its place beside pre-experience business and management master’s degrees as a valuable, marketable credential.
—Rebecca Loades
Rebecca Loades coordinated the GMAC® Bologna Project Task Force and is a consultant to GMAC®. She holds an MBA from the Rotterdam School of Management, the Netherlands.
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