Porto Business School’s AI-integrated Global MBA program prepares students with skills for the future, emphasizing leadership and innovation. Dean José Esteves shares the details of this innovative program.
Porto Business School (PBS) is preparing its MBA students to lead in a world where Artificial Intelligence (AI) works alongside human employees.
The school’s philosophy is “Make Change Happen,” and students can only do that if they’re given the skills to stay ahead of the times. In an interview, José Esteves, the Dean and President of PBS, explains, “It is not just preparing students for the present, giving them the content that they need…but also we always try to think about skills.”
It’s not just about knowing the content but also about being innovative and curious. With the current pace of the world’s evolution, it’s easy for our knowledge to become obsolete, as information becomes easily accessible online or via AI. It is the ways of thinking, and the unique skill set of graduates that set them apart in the business world.
PBS offers three programs for those looking to upgrade their skills and get ahead.
The full-time International MBA provides students with a global perspective, which is essential for today’s interconnected business world. The Global Online MBA, offered fully online, provides flexibility for working professionals worldwide.
The Executive MBA combines Portuguese and English courses, catering to experienced professionals who seek to enhance their leadership skills.
The International and Global MBAs allow students to personalize their learning experience through specializations. The Global Online MBA is unique as in this course students can specialize in AI.
PBS is part of the University of Porto, which boasts extensive expertise in AI and deep tech, including the AI for Business Center. The business school leverages this connection to provide students with a robust educational experience. Faculty members are trained in AI applications, and AI is integrated into various aspects of the school’s operations.
Dean Esteves shares how AI is incorporated into the MBA.
One of the standout features of the Porto Business School’s Global Online MBA is its integration of AI into the curriculum.
The AI specialization goes beyond viewing AI as a mere tool. Instead, AI is viewed as a paradigm shift.
“AI is going to radically change the workplace, decision making, how we collaborate with humans and machines, and how to develop new business models,” Dean Esteves says.
The courses develop AI literacy in students, ensuring they understand AI’s potential as well as its ethical implications. PBS places a strong emphasis on the ethical and managerial implications of AI.
“Nowadays, most of the topics we teach on the MBA level are people-focused,” Dean Esteves says. “If you think about some courses, they call it ‘Leadership and People Management’. Well, in the near future, and now, we are going to have employees which are machines, which are going to make decisions like the rest of the employees.”
Dean Esteves, who specializes in AI and digital leadership, emphasizes that now is the ideal time to learn how to use and leverage AI. Having studied IT engineering 30 years ago, he explains that the necessary resources have finally caught up with decades of theoretical development.
“Now, we have the processing capacity, we have the storage, and you have the ability to create the tools that now you can really execute,” he says.
Porto Business School prepares students to navigate the complexities of integrating AI into organizational structures. This preparation involves understanding both the potential benefits and the challenges of AI in the workplace.
“We have been doing some studies about that, and that’s a funny thing,” Dean Esteves notes. “Top management sees a good advantage in AI for managing staff…but they don’t see how to manage a company where humans and machines work together.”
The school’s curriculum addresses these challenges by focusing on the ethical and managerial aspects of AI. Graduates are equipped to handle a workforce that includes both human and AI employees as the industry demands.
PBS has 41 associate partners, including top Portuguese companies and multinationals. They continuously audit the courses to ensure that they bring the latest advances to address the industry’s needs.
In summary, Dean Esteves says, “Porto Business School is a very dynamic and vibrant system where you have academia but you have all these business companies [who continue to push us to the next level]. It’s forward-thinking, always.”
This close collaboration with the corporate community ensures that PBS remains a forward-thinking institution that is relevant and up-to-date on industry trends. PBS offers MBA programs that tackle the most urgent questions in today’s business world. Well-informed about the latest industry trends and equipped with key know-how, Porto Business School graduates leave ready to thrive in the ever-evolving business landscape.
Discover more about Porto Business School and what they have to offer.
