MSM shares expertise at GBSN-EFMD conference

Following its recent acceptance into GBSN (Global Business School Network) Maastricht School of Management contributed to the GBSN 2014 conference. The conference, in joint organization with the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), focused on the challenges Africa and other developing regions face in providing quality in management education. Over hundred participants coming from six different continents attended the two-day conference on 4 and 5 November 2014 in Barcelona.

During the conference the diversity in Africa's market for management education was referred to and countries and business schools being in different developmental states of quality management education. However, a number of issues emerged as relevant for most of the business schools in their aspiration to enhance quality and relevance, such as faculty recruitment and development, the use of new information and communication technology and the importance of entre- and intrapreneurship competences. Also mentioned were new forms of teaching and learning and further engagement of the private sector in education as to prepare students with the right skills to enter the labor market.

Based on its decades of experience in management education in the developing world, MSM contributed to the conference in a break-out session on business models and partnerships to build quality management education. To illustrate the importance of partnerships for MSM, the session was jointly delivered by MSM Assistant Professor Dr. Rita van Deuren and by Dr. Solomon Mogus Tassie, Deputy Director General of Ethiopian ESC (Education Strategy Center). The session focused on partnering and business models for worldwide management education, on the role of institutional capacity development projects, on networking and relationship management and on future challenges and perspectives. Following discussions with participants it was concluded partnerships and new business models are crucial in enhancing quality of management education in Africa.