The complex challenges facing all businesses globally, such as artificial intelligence and big data, require industry players to adapt in order to remain relevant. A new cadre of managers with diverse skills, knowledge and adaptability is needed to address the challenges to be faced in the future world of work. It is against this backdrop that Prof Elsabé Loots, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, shared insights about the Faculty’s cross-disciplinary programmes at the 2019 Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) Dean’s Conference that took place in Vancouver, Canada, from 10 to 12 February.
The AACSB International is a global non-profit association that aims to promote a culture of high quality and continuous improvement in business education. It annually hosts the Dean’s Conference to bring together business school deans and heads of higher education business units from across the globe.
This year’s conference attracted more than 600 attendees representing 52 countries. The critical topics that were presented were aimed at assisting deans – and ultimately future business leaders –prepare for, adapt to, and lead change by unlearning old approaches and embracing new ways of thinking. Some of the topics discussed were the future of work, lifelong learning and diversity management.
Prof Loots co-presented a session with Prof Nancy Bagranoff, Dean of the Robins School of Business and Professor of Accounting at the University of Richmond, during which they discussed the challenges and opportunities associated with cross-disciplinary programmes. They also engaged with the audience by sharing success stories of programmes that span departments, colleges and borders. Prof Loots explains: “Breaking down silos in business schools and university results in students who are better prepared to work in diverse teams on interdisciplinary projects and adapt to changing business environments.”
The Faculty of EMS has embarked on the process of obtaining AACSB International accreditation. The accreditation application requires compliance with 15 standards, and covers the full spectrum of BCom undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Prof Elsabé Loots at the AACSB Deans Conference in Vancouver, Canada
Virtual Campus
Get Social With Us
Download the UP Mobile App