While there were a number of varying views expressed, some common themes included the delivery of relevant and practical curriculum to a number of target markets, including the private sector at both the SME and MNC levels, as well as participants from the public sector, civil society, and social institutions. There was a debate around whether business schools should teach political economy so graduates are able to analyze and react to the political environment, or if this was beyond the scope of business education. Participants also debated the pros and cons and business education based in research versus practice and agreed some balance between the two was ideal.

Following the Members Meeting, AABS held a conference on Responsible Management Education for Africa.  Participants spent the day engaged in discussions about the meaning of responsible management and how to integrate ethical business practices into business school curricula. There was much discussion about the appropriate scope of business schools in teaching ethics and the limited capacity of business school faculty to integrate ethics into their courses. However, there was a general sense that business schools ought to present the challenges of being a responsible manager to their students and do a better job of providing a forum for student discussion. Such a forum would allow students to have the opportunity to confront ethical challenges in the classroom environment just as they will in the workplace.  Additionally, a number of potential action points were raised, including a proposed Research Steering Committee on the subject to be chaired by AABS, which is under discussion.

For more information, please visit AABS website at www.aabschools.com