Business schools’ key role as UAE transforms

Nigel Banister, chief global officer and CEO of Manchester Business School, discusses the state of business education in the UAE.

Nigel Banister, the chief global officer & CEO, MBS Worldwide at the Manchester Business School campus in Knowledge Village in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Nigel Banister is the chief global officer and chief executive of Manchester Business School, which offers a Global Executive MBA at its Dubai campus. He talks to The National about the state of business education in the Arabian Gulf.

How would you characterise the market for executive education in the UAE?

The UAE and Dubai have done outstanding work in establishing a high-quality and well-regulated private education sector that is attracting leading education providers, including some of the world’s top business schools. These institutions bring a range of programme choices and study options.

The world’s first education free zone in Dubai was a true innovation, and Manchester Business School has operated here very successfully since 2006, working in close partnership with Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Village.

Why is locally based education and training important?

There is an increasing recognition of the need to improve skills in the region in order to achieve ambitious national plans to diversify and create knowledge economies. World Expo 2020 success will lead to a job-creation bonanza. Talent is in high demand but in short supply, so companies have to compete strongly to find the right people.

The region is very effective at attracting well-qualified, talented business people. In the UAE there is a strong sense, driven by the shared vision of the leaders, that committed professionals can find and create opportunities to advance their careers and succeed in their chosen fields.

World-class business schools help attract top executives to the region and help retain them by providing world-class development opportunities.

Why is business education growing in the UAE?

Education and training and development are increasingly recognised as a key enabler in realising the region’s economic and social ambitions. The UAE’s National Agenda puts education firmly at the top of their priorities.

Vocational education, executive education and general business education will all play a vital role in ensuring continued access to a highly trained workforce and in maintaining competitive, world-class skills as the region grows and continues to diversify.

The expected influx of professionals into the region will also drive demand for business education with employers being put under pressure to acquire and retain top talent and skills.

The UAE has so much to offer professionals looking for interesting career and business opportunities across a wide range of sectors as the economy grows and diversifies – and it offers a high standard of living.

Multinational companies and their senior executives are increasingly interested in the UAE – and so are talented entrepreneurs. There is a buoyant economy supported by world-class communications, infrastructure, services and leisure opportunities.

Attracting world-class business schools is a part of the overall mix of benefits that attracts top companies and top talent and helps retain them in the UAE. With the successful Expo 2020 bid, the UAE will gain even more prestige and pulling power.

How should business schools balance practical and academic study?

We believe that a balance of academic studies and a firm understanding of theory combined with an understanding of practical application is an optimal approach to business education.

The “Manchester Method” of “learning by doing” combines rigorous academic study with a very practical focus on real world problems and opportunities through live company case studies, and the Global MBA programme also includes a project component that challenges students to consider real-world issues.

Students not only learn from the knowledge, guidance and practical experience of our faculty, but also from the other students on the programme who are all experienced working professionals and who can enrich the learning experience for each other.

How has business education changed society?

Business schools in the UK – of which MBS was one of the first – were conceived to improve the quality of business management. This is even more essential as the global economy becomes ever more integrated, complex and fast-moving.

However, the real transformations are at the personal level, where men and women in business can improve their knowledge, performance and careers through academic and practical studies that help transform their lives, their companies, and the communities of which they are a part.

What’s the future for business education?

Business education follows changes in business, and these are strongly influenced by broader changes in society. For example, the integration of technology into business and learning is more apparent than ever.

Business practices are developing quickly, as society’s expectations of business change and evolve. What is clear is that learning is a lifelong commitment, so business education should be an ongoing process. An MBA is not the end of the learning journey, but arguably just the beginning.

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