Madam, – During this current economic crisis many of us working in business schools get asked what types of people are you producing that could have mismanaged the economy to such an extent and profited themselves at everyone’s expense? This implies that the education model is wrong. In particular, the top US schools have come in for some criticism for the aggressive and individualistic leaders that the curriculum of an MBA tends to churn out. These schools provide many of the top echelon leaders in the American banking system.
In response to this there have been numerous changes to the curriculum. Many schools now build in professional practice or the notion of being fit to practise into the curriculum. These competencies give space to all round development but in particular to reflective practice, sustainability and ethical behaviour.
Of course, we have our challenges. As business education, in parallel with most disciplines, became more complex, the subject range and level of specialisation got, and is getting by the year, deeper. Students can quickly specialise in a subject within the vast business curriculum.
The task, especially at an undergraduate level, is to get the students to see the whole business system and how it connects to the social world around it. We are fortunate that our intake is receptive to ideas and innovation. Commentators often forget that an economy is made from people and it is difficult to meet a more idealistic and motivated group than the first-year college students. – Yours, etc,
Dr THOMAS O’TOOLE,
Head of School of Business,
Waterford Institute of Technology,
Waterford.