Business schools across Europe are failing to equip business leaders of the future with the skills they need, according to a new report. A report for the European Academy for Business in Society (EABIS) found that 76 percent of senior executives believe future leaders must be able to deal with difficult issues, including the low-carbon economy and trends in emerging markets. But less than 8 percent said these skills were being effectively taught by business schools.Senior executives believe there is a real performance gap, the report says. There is a clear demand for more and better management education and leadership development. The report, written by academics at Ashridge Business School on behalf of EABIS, also criticises traditional lecture-based teaching. Learning programmes that rely heavily on a lecture-based format are not fit for purpose, it says. The most effective learning and skills development comes through practical experience, whether on-the-job learning, project-based learning or some other form of experiential learning.
Matthew Gitsham, co-author of the report, says the report has profound implications both for in-house leadership development and business schools. Adds Jonathan Slack, chief executive of the Association of Business Schools: It is a serious wake-up call to business leaders, business schools and professional bodies in addressing the hugely important issues of environmental, economic and social sustainability. Many businesses are now responding strategically to the challenges of sustainability, and are looking to partner with business schools for their management and leadership development needs which are on the same learning journey. Both are interested in research, adaptation, innovation and the creation of new business opportunities and models. They need to talk the talk and walk the walk together.

(Excerpted and adapted from Times Higher Education)