Rethinking higher education in management : how to create 21st century leaders using a symbiosis between European and developing countries ? - CEMS application

Details

Supervisors

Belleflamme, Paul

Faculty

Louvain School of Management

Degree label

Master [120] en ingénieur de gestion
Master [120] en sciences de gestion

Abstract

This paper analyses the skills needed in the 21st century, and studies if those skills are included in current higher education in management. The focus is made on top universities and emerging markets. The goal is to identify room for improvement and to fill the gap with a concrete solution. The preliminary analysis identified nine important skills classified in three different categories: Successful (1. International, 2. Diversity of formation), Successful but room for improvement (3. Digital environment, 4. Responsible leaders able to cooperate with social and political actors, 5. Soft skills) and Missing (6. Entrepreneurship as the most advanced form of experiential education, 7. Transmit of knowledge, 8. Interdisciplinarity, 9. Emerging markets knowledge). This initial finding has been completed by a survey conducted to 113 CEMS stakeholders (Students and alumni) representing 32 countries. The needs have then been prioritised for top universities: 1. Digitalisation, 2. Experiential education, 3. Entrepreneurship, 4. Responsible leaders, 5. Emotional intelligence, 6. Knowledge transfer, 7. Knowledge about emerging markets, 8. Hard skills, 9. Soft skills, 10. International experience. A similar analysis has been made for emerging market education needs. The priority is put on 1. Scale quality education, 2. Entrepreneurship, 3. Responsible leaders, 4. Client orientation, 5. Digital leaders, 6. Cooperate with social and political actors, 7. International experience. To work simultaneously on those areas for improvement, a solution in collaboration between top European universities and emerging market universities has been suggested. The solution is applied to the CEMS program. One part of the solution consists of a new program structure for one semester including teaching in a tier 2 university of emerging markets, working in a local start-up, and following courses at CEMS emerging partner universities. Students in emerging markets would have the same opportunities in developed countries. The other part of the solution includes new activities, new skills seminars, or new events. CEMS students and alumni shared their opinion on the solutions through a second survey and the large majority agrees with it. It is important to be aware of and overcoming resistance to change. Some suggestions have been made on how to create a dynamic approach for curriculum renewal.

Citations

• APA

Heroes, E., & Geyer, J. (2020). Rethinking higher education in management : how to create 21st century leaders using a symbiosis between European and developing countries ? - CEMS application. https://dial-mem.test.bib.ucl.ac.be/handle/2078.2/22294