AACSB Highlights 21 Novel Approaches to Business School Collaborations and Their Impact

The complex needs of business, government, and society must be addressed through multidisciplinary, dynamic, and impactful partnerships. Today, AACSB International (AACSB)—the world’s largest business education network—recognizes 21 business school collaborations as highlights of its 2019 Innovations That Inspire challenge.

An annual initiative, the challenge recognizes institutions from around the world that serve as champions of change in the business education landscape. This year’s focus emphasizes co-creation of knowledge—one of five opportunities identified in AACSB’s Collective Vision for Business Education. With research and thought leadership as a foundation, the highlighted institutions are engaging in a wide range of collaborative partnerships to support new curriculum, establish new products or services, and impact industry and government policy.

Included among the highlighted innovations is UNSW Business School’s Sandbox Method for Transformative Research, a translational, multidisciplinary research methodology for co-creating business and social impact that aims to bridge the academic-practice gap and provide a platform for high-impact research. At Monash University Malaysia, the Gerontechnology Laboratory was established to deepen awareness and understanding of the health, well-being, active aging, and safe working and living of older adults through assistive technology-based research. Likewise in the Philippines, the Asian Institute of Management’s ACCeSs@AIM seeks to help grow businesses, improve developing Asian economies, and build the Philippines’ data analytics capacity.

“Business schools that engage across disciplines and with industry, inside and outside the traditional bounds of business and management, exemplify AACSB’s vision for the future of business education,” said Thomas R. Robinson, president and CEO of AACSB. “We are honored to recognize these 21 business schools as they lead by example, emphasizing their own areas of expertise and embracing collaborative approaches, all while addressing critical issues to drive social change.”

Now in its fourth year, the Innovations That Inspire challenge has highlighted more than 100 business school efforts that exemplify forward-looking approaches to education, research, community engagement or outreach, and leadership. To date, members of AACSB’s Business Education Alliance have shared more than 800 innovations, creating a robust repository in AACSB’s DataDirect system to inform and inspire fellow members and the industry.

For an overview of all featured innovations, visit aacsb.edu/innovations-that-inspire.

SOURCE AACSB International