This short overview of the three key trends in Executive Education is based on our experience in the recent years and programmes that were marked for excellence both internally and on an international level[1].
Programmes are more and more enrooted in business reality, ensuring high efficiency and immediate implementation of knowledge.
Business schools move away from ‘one-size fits all’ model towards truly customized collaborative approach. Programmes are expected to solve particular business challenges and provide hands-on expertise, knowledge and tools.
Across the board clients are more and more interested in focused programmes in Operational Efficiency, Project Management, Communication, Team Performance, etc. Group work on real corporate strategic projects and change initiatives has become a must-have in any programme, even a short one.
To bring this trend even further, several of Russian regional and municipal governments (e.g. the republics of Tatarstan and Bashkortostan) have chosen to use educational programmes to develop real strategies for regional growth. Education programme have proven to be a truly unique and very healthy environment for developing an innovation approach to strategy creation.
Personal development and holistic approach to learning
We have seen an increasing importance of Corporate Entrepreneurship and a need to build the educational programmes around some core competencies, e.g.
- Goal setting
- Problem solving
- Creative thinking
- Business development
- Personal accountability
Executive Education programmes become more and more integrated with the internal T&D processes, assessments, on-the-job training and mentoring opportunities offered within the companies.
Last year we had several exciting programmes aimed at comprehensive personal and professional development of high potentials in Russia’s two strategic industries: including those for RZhD (Russian Railways) and Roskosmos (Russian State Space Corporation).
Partnership for growth
Moving from a client/vendor model towards long-term strategic partnerships between corporations and business schools, often engaging various industry players, government authorities and other stakeholders. Partnerships are thriving in every sector, and business education is no exception.
Industry specific programme for the oil and gas sector, sponsored by one of our loyal clients Gazprom neft, provides an example of complex and unique partnership of the school, the corporation, and the regulating authorities, all coming together to learn and find growth opportunities for the industry.
Internationally acclaimed programme for Rosatom was built around the corporation’s key strategic goal of developing commercially sustainable innovation practices. Through this programme, Rosatom has created their own unique innovation management system and saw their innovation culture completely transformed.
By Marina Karban, Director of Executive Education programmes, and Evgenia Feoktistova, Manager of Executive Education programmes, Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO
[1] This article is based on the case studies prepared for the annual 2016 SKOLKOVO Trend Awards contest and EFMD Excellence in Practice Awards.