Unpacking Impact in Business Education

Today's business schools are experiencing a variety of stakeholder pressures and are called on to meet an increasingly complex set of needs. They must ensure workforce-ready graduates in a work environment that is constantly changing. They must demonstrate a commitment to societal impact and prepare leaders who can balance profit with people, purpose, and planet. They must produce research that passes academic rigor and is timely for business, be both competitive and collaborative with other schools, and develop sustainable business models that serve shifting market expectations. And they need to continually innovate to maintain their relevance in all of these spaces.

It would be understandable if these pressures triggered a sense of dread in business school leaders. However, that’s not what we witnessed at AACSB’s 2023 International Conference and Annual Meeting (ICAM), held last week in Chicago, Illinois. With nearly 1,400 business education leaders in attendance, representing 61 countries, we saw the power of connection at work. Colleagues old and new gathered to learn together, share best practices, and inspire new pathways to creating real impact.

On Sunday, the ICAM agenda started with 15 networking community meetings representing special interest areas, such as the Women Administrators in Management Education Affinity Group, which notably celebrated its 30th anniversary. The schedule continued over the next two days with a variety of sessions, including keynotes on “The ABCs of Leadership: Building an Agile Organization” and “Overcoming the Resistance That Awaits New Ideas,” and others dedicated to topics like navigating new technologies, addressing climate change, curating content, fixing the research culture, partnering for impact, and much more.

Within this setting, AACSB released a new position paper, Let’s Lead Boldly: Elevating the Value of Business Schools, and companion Pathways to Innovation exploratory guide. While the paper defines the enhanced value that business schools can provide to the market and society, encouraging them to “lead boldly” to maximize their roles, the guide highlights six areas where business schools can create innovative solutions that align with their unique and evolving stakeholder expectations.

Exemplifying some of the ways that business schools are currently leading boldly, representatives from the 2023 Innovations That Inspire featured selections were on site for a meet-and-greet session, discussing their schools’ novel approaches to enhancing the value of business education for learners, businesses, and society.

Over the coming months, AACSB will launch advocacy efforts that continue to promote the many ways business schools create value through innovation.

See some of the shareable moments from this special event:

And so it begins! #AACSB #icam23

— Dr Céline Benoit (@Celine_Benoit_)

Talking #ValuePropositions at the opening session at #ICAM23 - with interesting insights on the @AACSB innovation roadmap

— Tim Vorley (@timvorley)

What is modern leadership? You be an Architect, Bridger and Catalyst. Great keynote by prof. Linda A. Hall. #ICAM23 #AACSB

— Sari-Johanna Karhapää (@Karhapaasj)

We had a wonderful time in Chicago for our Founding Partner @AACSB’s International Conference and Annual Meeting (#ICAM23), our supporter #WiBENetwork’s learning session and our Academic Partner @Sage_Publishing’s incredible dinner. #ThePhDProject

— ThePhDProject (@ThePhDProject)

Another great AACSB ICAM conference. Sharing best practice at its best. Lovely to make new connections and reconnect with friends. Until next year! #ICAM2023 #AACSB #pathwaystoimpact #sharingbestpractice #Chicago #networking

— Jan Shearer (@janshearer4)

@udcSBPA_Dean Mo Sepehri and Dr. Anshu Arora at the @AACSB International Conference and Annual Meeting (ICAM). We have been recognized among @AACSB International’s 2023 Innovations that Inspire! Learn more: https://t.co/naWfw0NjUH #ICAM23 #AACSB #udc1851 #udcsbpa #udcfirebirds

— UDC School of B&PA (@udcSBPA)

Fixing the research culture. Takeaways: Focus on why it’s relevant, talk about faculty moves into and out of practice, build institutes that translate the importance of research, and incentivize faculty to get research into the classroom #ICAM2023 #icam23

— Susan Fournier (@QuestromDean)

The insights from #ICAM23 @AACSB have inspired me and many others to lead boldly through the continuous improvement of our business schools! Great event!

— Michael R Kowalski (@mrkowala)

Instead putting your #idea in the center it’s better to put your #audience in the center … to fuel #change ! #ICAM2023 @AACSB @ESCA_EM

— Thami Ghorfi (@TGHORFI)

Último día en ICAM de @AACSB en EEUU 🇺🇸 con talleres de trabajo sobre el aseguramiento del aprendizaje, aspectos a tener en cuenta para la reacreditación y conferencia de cierre sobre cómo superar las resistencias a las buenas ideas. Thanks AACSB for such a useful conference.

— Ignacio Bartesaghi (@i_bartesaghi)

Thank you to all of the attendees who made this year’s ICAM memorable. We are energized to support you on your journeys to becoming the innovative business schools of tomorrow!
 

Interested in upcoming conferences, seminars, and additional learning opportunities? Visit aacsb.edu/events to see how AACSB can help you stay informed about best practices and expand your global network.