How Is The Business School Experience Adapting For Today’s World?

Is the business school experience still relevant today? Employers certainly seem to think so, as around two-thirds believe business degrees remain more effective than micro-credentials for training employees, according to a recent GMAC survey. 

But that doesn’t mean change isn’t necessary to ensure the value of business education. 

For business schools, adapting the learning experience to reflect changes in the business landscape is essential to ensure that students are capable of leading organizations and driving positive impact. 

At the University of Bath School of Management, this thinking has guided the recent evolution of the school's Executive MBA program. New enhancements are designed to align the study experience with the realities of a world shaped by uncertainty, technological advancements, and societal change. 

Embracing an interdisciplinary approach to learning

To begin adapting the two-year EMBA curriculum, the team at Bath School of Management, led by Dr Jane Ellis-Brush, director of teaching for MBA programs, undertook a 360-degree review, consulting with key stakeholders, including academics, employers, alumni, and students. 

Interactions with key industry players revealed a desire for executives able to navigate the increasing complexity of the business landscape and a comprehensive understanding of the various functions that comprise the day-to-day operations of a business. 

With significant experience in the corporate world—including 10 years as managing director for multinational bank, Citi—Jane was keen to achieve this by incorporating an interdisciplinary approach into the learning experience. 

“In a traditional EMBA, you'll see marketing, finance, and HR delivered as separate units. But actually when you get into business, while you'll find some of those functions, they never work in isolation in that way, they are collaborative functions that work together," she explains. 

"We break down the boundaries between disciplines to gain a more holistic understanding of business ecosystems." 

Individual modules within the Bath EMBA program now combine multiple functions, while assignments assess students’ understanding of how problems simultaneously affect various business areas. For example, the Managing the Customer Experience Module combines elements of marketing, supply chain management, analytics, and operations. 

"Our MBA program mirrors the interconnected reality of modern organizations to cultivate a big-picture mindset essential for great leadership," Jane adds.

Focusing on personal development

Another topic raised during the team’s conversations with cross-industry connections was the need for executives who were not only competent across the spectrum of business functions but also innovative and creative when it comes to leading their organizations. 

Moving forward, Bath is placing significant emphasis on helping EMBA students enhance their personal leadership styles, giving them opportunities to find new ways to make an impact within their organizations. 

This is to be achieved through credit-bearing assessments that evaluate students’ personal development, alongside their more academic work. A variety of measurements, including peer reviews, reflective journals, and e-Portfolios, will see EMBA students assessed on their capability to lead and navigate change. 

“It’s something I’m really passionate about, to make sure that we equip people with the skills to be—not just leaders—but visionary leaders," explains Jane.

"Professional and personal skill development needs to be balanced with academic theory so it was essential that this was included in the core learning experience. It's an often overlooked but critical part of becoming an authentic leader, so we felt that this had to be an important differentiator for our new program," she adds.  

Reinforcing practical learning opportunities 

The typical EMBA experience comprises a combination of theoretical learning mixed with practical experiences designed to help students apply their knowledge and skills. 

Bath’s innovative approach to learning has long emphasized practical experiences as a means to allow students to put their newly-learned skills to the test. 

The MBA programs at Bath have taken this approach one step further by embedding practice-based projects into every element of the learning experience. 

Moving forward, EMBA students will work hands-on with a variety of organizations, with real-world case studies, guest lectures, and an integrated consulting project at the end of year one. In year two, students will apply change and leadership strategy to a complex business challenge in their own Capstone Project, providing constructive analysis and recommendations for a current employer or business partner.

"We want students to be comfortable and confident working in teams. It allows them to draw on their own capabilities whilst also giving back to businesses." says Jane.

"This is really important in terms of just boosting the students’ experience—working together, getting hands-on experience, working in different subjects and with different groups that maybe they wouldn't have a chance to otherwise.” 

Adapting to social and technological changes 

The world is rapidly changing amid key evolutions in areas such as sustainability and artificial intelligence (AI). Indeed, research shows that prospective business school students are keenly interested in learning about these topics to help prepare them for the future. For executives, this is particularly important when developing strategies to ensure the future stability of their organizations. 

Responding to this prominent need for future-ready teaching was vital for the Bath School of Management team when designing the EMBA. As one of the UK's leading universities with world-renowned research, the team consulted with the university's Faculty of Science to drive program innovation and incorporate developments in areas like AI and disruptive technology into the EMBA’s learning experience.

Likewise, alongside dedicated courses, each module in the EMBA program now incorporates some learning on how business concepts can impact the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which cover issues including poverty, gender equality, clean water, and reduced inequality. 

“We think that's really important to balance learning with people, the planet, and profit,” Jane explains. “We look at sustainability as a golden thread running through the program.” 

Incorporating such topics into the learning experience is part of a wider effort to respond to adaptations in the business landscape and changes in the skills required for today’s business leaders. 

"Our leaders need to possess the agility to navigate complexity, identify opportunities, and drive real, transformative change," she says. 

"This is an ongoing process, so, as a program, we need to constantly adapt and remain versatile to changing dynamics and challenges in the business world. This is how we maintain the relevance of the learning experience for years to come."