Business Education: COVID-19 and Beyond

Abstract

Increasingly, we believe, B schools are at a crossroads and will have to take a hard look at their value propositions. (Datar et al., 2011)

While this was said more than a decade ago, it could not be further from the truth even today. In early 2020, the pandemic, a black swan-like event, struck suddenly, forcing educational institutions to adapt in the blink of an eye. Business schools (B-Schools) too had to transition and adapt to a new learning normal. Platforms like Webex, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, etc. became the new classrooms across the globe. The pandemic forced the industry to change and enabled the adoption of technology much faster than what was estimated. The metaphor of the chrysalis is apt in the context of B-Schools as they emerged out of the pandemic. The new order required B-Schools to relook at teaching pedagogy, learning mechanisms, methodologies for evaluation, collaborations, and industry connect. While digital literacy gave way to digital citizenship, there was a need to nurture it responsibly. As students move forward in their journey of becoming digital citizens, it becomes necessary to evolve norms and practices that will be acceptable.

Citation

Pradhan, S. (2024), "Business Education: COVID-19 and Beyond", Hack-Polay, D., Lock, D., Caputo, A., Lokhande, M. and Salunkhe, U. (Ed.) Global Higher Education Practices in Times of Crisis: Questions for Sustainability and Digitalization, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 311-325. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83797-052-020241019