Exchange programs, class diversity and even foreign campuses make for a superficial experience says head of Global Business School Network
While business schools talk a lot about diversity and a global experience, most of them don’t really provide it, says Guy Pfeffermann who heads a network of business schools in developed and emerging countries.
“Every business school in the world claims to be international,” says Pfeffermann, who is founder and CEO of the Global Business School Network (GBSN), based in Washington DC.
However, he says, this just isn’t true. Meeting targets for the number of countries represented in each MBA class or sending students abroad on short consulting projects or exchanges only has a superficial impact. Recent research by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools) backs up this conclusion.
Students are mostly exposed to US and Europe-focused case studies and business practices. Even if they’re studying at a campus in Singapore or Dubai, they’re following the same curriculum as their peers in New York, London or Paris. Their ability to work with clients and competitors on the ground in an emerging country is limited.What's needed is something akin to a "mini Peace Corps experience", with students on the ground for longer and doing business with the locals.
Over the last 15 years, over 40 per cent of growth in world GDP has been in emerging countries points out Pfeffermann, a former chief economist of the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation . “There’s a disconnect between where the jobs will be and what business schools are offering”.
There’s an “enormous need” to develop business schools in emerging markets. Places that are growing rapidly and lack business education need programs that are affordable and relevant to businessmen and women in cities like Lagos, Karachi and Accra.
The GBSN facilitates cross border collaborative projects between developed and emerging market business schools to do just that. For example, Pfeffermann describes how a handful of business case writers from leading business schools connected with business faculty in Kenya to write some local cases. “Before 2005 there were hardly any Kenyan cases and today there are about 200 cases”, says Pfeffermann.
Some of the cases focused on entrepreneurial ventures within Nairobi’s slums. They ranged from running an illegal bar in the centre of a huge slum; to branding challenges for kiosks selling standard items such as pens, gum and razor blades; to Petty Errands, a courier firm set up by an unemployed man who decided to charge for running errands.
This kind of collaboration helps top world business schools as much as the schools in emerging markets, a point noted in the AACSB report too, which describes such collaboration as “the most underutilized mechanism with the greatest potential”. Faculty and students are taken out of their comfort zone to the front lines of business in emerging markets.”
Pfeffermann thinks the corporate world has a big role to play in boosting emerging market business schools, and that it stands to gain a lot by doing so.
“I’m not convinced that the corporate world has woken up to the fact that there are local business schools in emerging markets that can really help them,” he says
For a multinational corporation, endowing an academic chair at such an emerging market school would be a relatively low-cost way to build a relationship and tap into a pool of local management talent, who won’t expect nearly the remuneration as their expat counterparts.
Much of the work the GBSN does is towards building partnerships between 46 business schools around the world and between corporates and business schools in key emerging countries. Its activities range from connecting business schools, corporations, NGOS, and other partners around the world for networking and collaboration, holding networking events for faculty worldwide through their annual conferences and other events, linking business school students with projects in emerging markets, and helping emerging market business schools access international expertise for institutional development.
So are there any international b-schools that are doing a good job of preparing students for the globalized business work? Echoing the AACSB, Pfeffermann mentions France’s ESSEC, which requires fluency in four languages in order to enter their MBA program. “It’s easier for Europeans,” adds Pfeffermann, “They’re used to speaking languages and living abroad”.
Student Reviews
The best intercultural university
There are more than 50 nationality in the grade, so there are opportunities to interact with people from all around the world. In terms of academics, the BBA course offers diverse courses for the 1st
Creativity, adaptability and entrepreneurship
The Master in Management program at the ESSEC Business School allows the students to choose their courses accordingly to their preferences and their professional targets. We can also go through international exchange and take part in internships with companies that are also partners with the school. The school is also next to the city of Paris.
Top business school in France
Doing PhD in essec took some time, to be precise about five years. But the experience was very good and cost effective too. There are opportunities for the student for teaching assistantship and that helps both financially and in career. In the final year I could manage to teach marketing to M1 students and this helped shape my career
Great college
The program is well suited for early professionals with an engineering degree preferably or a degree in economics. I would suggest taking the ceasure irrespective of the experience level as it helps you take your time to adjust to the job market.
Good school in France
I am currently enrolled in M2 in Essec business school. I am specialising in marketing management. The Grande Ecole programme is valued in France and my school ranks very high up. There are a lot of opportunities for internships and CDD.
The program curriculum
BBA program. The program is really practical and useful, provide us many international opportunities. Like internship and humanitarian experience, and the flexibility is also really cool, we can choose different campus and tracks as we want.
International Course
This school is very international and business oriented. Highly recognized by the companies The campus has been renovated and is very functional and modern from now on. Excellent atmosphere. Reputation of essec is a plus
Friends, Career opportunities.
The program I did gave me the opportunity to start in Singapore. I got the chance to know all the students that started there and we bonded and made some friends for life. The career opportunities that ESSEC also gave me were unbelievable.
Practical and useful
I think the best thing about Essec is that it's not focusing on academics rather it emphasizes on future job mindset and professional experiences..
The classes are interesting and we have plenty of workshops attributing to different sectors..
The campus is very nice with a good cafe and wonderful library.
The only problem is the location of the campus. It's quite far from Paris.
Amazing experience! Must try
I think its a very amazing school with great and experienced faculty. Also the alumni network is very solid and useful. The school has a great balance of studies and work experience which is really essential for a student.
GBBA: Diverse, Enriching, and Career-Boosting
My experience at ESSEC Business School has been outstanding. The Global BBA program offers a rich academic curriculum and diverse learning opportunities. I appreciated the chance to study on different campuses, including an international exchange, which broadened my perspective. The social environment is culturally diverse and vibrant, enhancing both my personal and professional growth. The administration is attentive, constantly offering new academic and student life opportunities. The campus facilities and classrooms are excellent. I highly recommend ESSEC for its excellence, global exposure, and career opportunities.
ESSEC BS BBA REVIEW
The English track BBA program at ESSEC is simply exceptional. Courses are taught by internationally renowned professors who are experts in their field. The subjects taught cover a wide range of disciplines from marketing to finance, strategy and entrepreneurship. The English track is a major asset because it allows you to develop perfect mastery of professional English, essential in today's globalized business world. Some students love student life at Essec, which is one of the best in France, but it all depends on taste.
Great program, incredible school
I love almost everything about this school, from the student life to the academic program and the opportunities it provides.
I'm currently at the Paris campus, in Cergy, and I'm really enjoying it.
The BBA program is very rich and diversified, you can start with geopolitics and then finance, what I mean is that there's a great balance between the subjects in this program.
I was also lucky enough to spend a semester at the Singapore campus, and I loved that experience on the other side of the world.
ESSEC is also known for its dynamic and rich student life, with access to several parties a week and the various associations within the school.
If I could recommend just one school, it would be this one - I'm 100% satisfied.
Great experience
First of all, what I appreciate the most is the academic environment. The courses are extremely stimulating and are taught by high-level professors, often experts in their field. The diversity of subjects offered, ranging from marketing to finance, including entrepreneurship, allows you to acquire a complete and versatile education. The group projects, although sometimes stressful, are also an opportunity to learn to work in a team, which is essential in the professional world. One area that I feel could be improved is the management of student events. Although many activities are organized, I have noticed that some events can lack organization or communication, which can frustrate those who want to get involved. Better coordination between the different student associations and the administration could really improve the overall experience.
