Vincent Mangematin: it is important to see the light at the end of the tunnel

19:26, November 12, 2020

Experts discussed educational models of the future and transformation of the labor market in new conditions

In 2020, universities around the world are faced with the challenges of the pandemic: an abrupt transition to the online model, digitalization of education and communication. To what extent has the relationship between universities and employers changed, why online learning is better than a mixed model, and what to do for not losing touch of lecturer and students with the university and the labor market. These and other questions were discussed by the participants of the plenary discussion “Searching for the New Normal: Models of Future Education and Labor Market Transformation” at XV Anniversary International Conference of GSEM UrFU “Russian regions in the focus of changes”.

Deans of international accredited business schools of Russia, Europe and Asia compared the development strategies of educational programs with the international recruiting agency Highered (EFMD Global) representatives of big Russian and international business.

According to Vincent Mangematin, Dean and Academic Director of the KEDGE Business School (France), it is necessary to rethink the value proposition, because the key idea of education is not only direct teaching in the classroom, but that the university teaches students to be successful and meet the requirements of a new normal:

"In conditions of uncertainty, students and lecturer should be involved in scientific and practical projects with a medium and long term perspective."

Dean of the SolBridge International School of Business (South Korea) Hamid Bouchikhi noted the trend of launching master's programs in the online format. The cost of such programs is difficult to assess in the current environment. Director of Indian Institute of Management Indore Himanshu Rai shared his experience in overcoming the negative consequences of the pandemic:

“Our partners helped us to implement artificial intelligence for examinations, agreed to keep vacancies for students and provide online internships. Many banks have provided a deferral for the payment of loans for education."

Deans noted that a hybrid option that combines both online and offline listeners in one audience is least successful model. The model of digital education in full allows teaching students, developing analytical competencies, design thinking, and creativity. The key challenge is maintaining social and emotional contact.

“We often hold coffee breaks with students, talk with them informally, discuss various issues,” says Mark Thomas, Associate Dean & Director of Graduated Programmes (MBA-MIB-MSc), Grenoble Ecole de Management (France).

Dmitry Tolmachev, Director of GSEM, shared the results of the study: in the economy and management sector, the combination of hard and soft skills plays a crucial role in the selection of candidates, and industrial sectors indicate a lack of hard skills. At the same time, employers often choose students from the nearest region.

Chief Innovation Officer at HigherEd EFMD Global, digital internship platforms worldwide, Amber Alvarez highlighted the factors behind the successful transition of the global labor market to digital services. Because of the gamification of candidate selection, more than 2,500 students, including students of EFMD, an accredited Ural Federal University program, have found digital internships amid the pandemic.

Representatives of IBM Russia / CIS and ChelPipe Group noted the importance and readiness to work with universities.

Irina Efremova-Garth, CSR Leader IBM Russia/CIS, said:

"Business, government and educational institutions should work together to transform the educational process by developing new methods and techniques for preparing highly qualified graduates."

Thus, experts from the academic and business community have revealed the secret formula of new normal competencies: possess good analytical tools + be able to integrate soft skills.

“The effectiveness of the future education model is influenced by the global focus of the business school, the level of socio-economic development of home region, the digital competence of lecturer, and the adaptability of students, as well as integration with employers. This predetermines the competitive career of a graduate "- summed up the discussion Zhanna Belyaeva, Academic Director of School of Management and Interdisciplinary Research GSEM, head of the educational program" International Economics and Business".