Continuous learning is-or should be-a fundamental condition for senior managers. Being up to date on certain subjects, training in cutting-edge disciplines or acquiring new techniques are just some of the benefits of executive education.
With the pandemic, many colleges had to reinvent themselves, adapt their methodology and curriculum and implement the necessary changes to meet the demands of their target audience and achieve a program that meets the needs we have today. With that premise, what can we expect from the executive postgraduate programs of the future?
Face-to-face attendance has definitely taken a back seat, and many of today’s Executive MBAs and MBAs offer different study modalities: distance, semi-distance, or remote with face-to-face modules. This has opened-up a greater possibility for executives seeking top management training at international universities while continuing to work.
The curriculum has also changed and today it has a focus on multidisciplinary learning with a global vision of business, encouraging global networking. However, “the new normality” forces us to consider courses on remote networking, remote leadership, and remote management and teamwork skills, all subjects that require different abilities than those exhibited in face-to-face environments. Practical courses that were once on the table as electives are now essential. Among them: crisis management, internal and external communication, and time management.
Perhaps the biggest change has been the much anticipated digital transformation. The pandemia forced business leaders to execute pending changes quickly and accelerate measures that would allow them to survive in uncertain times. Nowadays it is essential to have professionals trained in these aspects and universities have taken note by promoting contents related to new technologies, information systems and innovation.
An additional point that is very relevant today is mental health. Courses on mindfulness, wellbeing and stress management are part of the programs of some universities. The need to have executives who have an adequate management of their emotions is a post-pandemic must and these are characteristics that study centers want to promote in order to deliver professionals who have a good physical, mental and emotional balance.
The crisis has encouraged a need to move forward, and with it, universities around the world are striving to provide multidisciplinary learning that adds value to those who invest time and money in their education. Without a doubt, an MBA is no longer just a means to obtain better job opportunities in the short term. Today, it is a necessity for all professionals who want to succeed in a post-pandemic world.