This response is posted in the Comments for the Economist article Tutors to the World.

I am pleased that The Economist devoted a Schumpeter page to the globalization of business schools (see, an important topic which Jonathan Doh and I wrote about in the March 6 FT, Top schools face globalisation challenge). Meanwhile the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business published a scholarly book:Globalization of Management Education. In tune with some of the comments posted, the article and the book reach quite different conclusions from those of the Schumpeter piece. While there is a huge amount of buzz about business school globalization, how much is actually happening depends on what is meant by “globalization”. Measuring globalization by the proportion of foreign students is not very meaningful, as pointed out by other commentators. To me true globalization consists of schools educating managers who are able to function “seamlessly” professionally and socially in countries. Very few business schools do this.

“Schumpeter” did not emphasize the growing number of good-quality business schools in the developing world, outside the BRIC countries. They are responding to strong local demand for managerial talent. They tailor their pedagogy to local needs, including leadership and managerial demand by NGOs, health organizations, small businesses, as well as by traditional companies. Some of the local teaching cases they produce are among the most fascinating, because they are geared to local conditions, including “bottom-of-the-pyramid” businesses. The development of local schools during the past decade, notably in Africa, is a most welcome trend in fast-growing markets with limited talent pools. The Global Business School Network is dedicated to fostering improvements in management education in the developing world.