How The Brunel MBA Evolves To Meet Modern Industry
What does it take to shape the future? The future of business leadership in a fast-paced world requires innovation at a fundamental level in business education. Dr. Jessica Chelekis, MBA Director at Brunel Business School in the United Kingdom, shares her vision for an expanded curriculum that supports students beyond their graduation.
In this interview with MBAGRADSCHOOLS, she explains her perspective, “It takes an intersection of critical thinking skills and ability to have a kind of broad and holistic view of thinking, but also deep expertise.” (00:26)
She delves into how business education must evolve to meet the dynamic demands of modern industries, focusing on interdisciplinary collaboration, continuous learning, and practical application.
Shaping Future Business Leadership: The Core Expertise You Need
The opportunity for close collaboration with industries and practitioners is one of the key attractions of a master’s degree. It’s through these partnerships that students can develop core expertise in their chosen field.
This interdisciplinary approach continues to be important today, particularly when it comes to STEM subjects. From generative AI to digital transformation, technology intersects with almost all areas of business. An MBA program with solid collaboration in these fields helps to equip students with the technological prowess and practical application they need to succeed.
However, Dr. Chelekis highlights the need for a balance with other areas of study. “We also need to collaborate more with social sciences and philosophy because these are the areas that will help develop the broad, holistic ways of thinking that are really important for innovation, and most importantly, learning how to ask the important questions.” (01:27)
By adding social sciences and philosophy to the coursework, students develop an expanded skill set that is essential not just for business but also for leadership.
Integrating Holistic Perspectives: Social Sciences and Philosophy in MBA
This evolution of the MBA shouldn’t require universities to do a complete rethink, but instead consider how they can expand the current curriculum. This might include accessing existing resources, such as philosophers from other departments. By applying their expertise to business problems, it gives students the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills, innovation, and curiosity.
A second option includes expanding the range of social sciences that are included in the MBA. The traditional approach is to borrow largely from economics, political science, and psychology, which limits the full potential for insight. Dr. Chelekis highlights that the wider social sciences tend to be ignored, “These are fields that also have a lot to teach us in terms of understanding how organizations work, how consumers work, how businesses in society can or should work.” (03:28)
Incorporating skills from fields such as sociology and anthropology would provide a deeper understanding of organizations, business, and consumer behavior.
Understanding Human Behavior: A Deeper Dive in MBA Curricula
Incorporating social sciences with business studies is not a new idea, but Dr. Chelekis believes there are benefits to taking it further.
The current MBA structure often integrates social science or psychology as it relates to leadership or understanding business organizations. “When we’re studying business and management and leadership, it is a social science.” (02:47)
But understanding human behavior goes beyond people management. This holistic approach could be just as important when applied to modules in finance, economics, or international business. By giving students historical context to the present-day global business landscape, they can develop creative and critical thinking to complement deep skills in their chosen specialty.
Sustaining Relevance: Lifelong Learning for Modern Professionals
Dr. Chelekis goes on to explain how this expanded MBA can help graduates stay relevant in a world where skills become less valid over time. The idea of a degree that sets you up for life is no longer realistic.
“The emphasis on continual learning, incremental or module learning, that’s definitely here with us. I don’t see it disappearing anytime soon.” (05:58)
It’s here where business schools can support students. She states, “Universities are actually in a really good position to offer ongoing micro-credentials or continuous learning, short courses to help graduates, to help professionals refresh, gain those specific skills that they need that maybe they didn’t get when they graduated two, three, or four years ago.” (07:25)
Core skills in innovation and critical thinking are an essential foundation for students who want to stay up to date with their chosen specialty.
Brunel’s Commitment to Evolution: Meeting Diverse Learner Needs
Brunel Business School has accepted the challenge of meeting the diverse needs of learners and professionals in the modern age. In response to market demands, they are already putting a number of changes into effect.
The first is MBA curriculum development, which involves an annual review and refresh in conjunction with students, industry professionals, and other institutions. This ensures that the coursework retains relevance with practical applications.
The school is also expanding its online presence and its offerings in executive education. By creating stronger links between executive learning and MBA programs, Brunel Business School hopes to better serve students at different points in their careers.
Future-Proof Your Career With Holistic Business Thinking
Dr. Jessica Chelekis offers important insights into the changing role of business education. It’s no longer enough for a university to simply help graduates embark on their chosen career, but instead to help them retain a competitive edge throughout their working life.
The business leaders of the future are not only technically proficient but also deeply critical, holistically minded, and adaptable. By expanding the MBA curriculum to include a broad selection of social sciences, business schools can empower leaders to navigate a dynamic and unpredictable global landscape. The journey of learning truly never ends.
Do you want to study for an MBA? Read more inspiring stories from MBA graduates and see if it is the right next step for you.
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