India’s Woxsen University organized a virtual panel discussion, in association with the International Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the Global European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) on Thursday Jan. 13. Monmouth University’s Dean of the Leon Hess Business School, Raj Devasagayem, Ph.D., was an active participant.
The expert-driven discussion analyzed how coupling traditional academia with industry knowledge in higher education settings can yield more qualified professionals and greater innovations.
Nishit Jain, Vice Chairman Higher Education Committee of IFCC, opened up the dialogue by posing a question to the group: “How are EFMD schools connecting talented students all over the globe with organizations and corporations?” Amber Wigmore Alvarez, Ph.D. and Chief Talent Officer for the Official Career Management System of EFMD Schools, responded, “We are pursuing different methods of connecting international talent to the workforce, one of which is our shared career services platform.” Jain followed up by asking Alvarez how the global pandemic has affected their recruitment process, to which Alvarez responded, “Companies are really enjoying the opportunity to be digital, enabling them to easily connect with thousands of students and alumni all over the globe in a matter of hours.”
Mark Scott Rosenbaum, Ph.D., Dean of Hawaii Pacific University’s College of Business, also commented on how the pandemic influenced the way his university reaches the corporate world. “I actually believe the pandemic has brought community members to universities to look for solutions. During the pandemic, we had local companies reach out to faculty for assistance from students, like starting websites,” Rosenbaum said. “These experiential projects are life-changing.”
Jain resumed moderating the panel, asking, “Are there significant University objectives or goals that are especially important now in a post-pandemic world?” Dean Devasagayem responded, “At Monmouth University, we have three key players: the student body, faculty, and industry.”
Devasagayem further explained that the Leon Hess Business School has worked to maintain the productive relationship between these players. “Our students’ drive pushes our faculty to not only provide the research and scholastic knowledge needed to be successful in the classroom, but also connect students to industry professionals in light of their future careers. The industry in turn has access to labor that is trained according to industry trends.”
Many of the panelists agreed that part of keeping business schools competitive in this ever-changing industry is to keep up with the times, whether that is enhancing remote learning or establishing departments dedicated to students’ job security upon graduation. Jain noted that, “Planning is a critical component of what it takes to excel and remain innovative.”
