The Business School Broadcast - 22nd December 2017

In this week’s Business School Broadcast we shine a light on incoming and outgoing deans at some of the world’s top business schools, look at new programs being offered and take a look at the importance of financial management with Vlerick Business School.

UW-Madison School of Business dean to resign, provost says

The dean of the UW-Madison School of Business is resigning after just one semester, which included a proposal — since reversed — to end the school’s Masters of Business Administration program.

Dean Anne Massey said Monday in an email to the school’s faculty and staff that she will join the faculty as a professor after her resignation takes effect Dec. 31. She said the move will allow Chancellor Rebecca Blank to pursue a different vision than Massey’s.

“My vision for the future of the WSB has not changed since I visited campus last March. Rather it was reinforced as (I) learned more about the school and its needs,” Massey wrote in the email. “However, I have realized that my vision for the school differs from Chancellor Blank’s.”

Politecnico di Milano becomes first Italian business school to be certified by EOCCS

The School of Management of Politecnico di Milano is the first Italian business school – and 12^th in Europe – recognised by the EOCCS (EFMD Online Course Certification) for the quality of the digital learning courses taught within its executive MBA programmes.

Politecnico di Milano’s courses in Innovation Management, taught within its International Flex EMBA, and Supply Chain Management, within its Flex EMBA, join 35 existing certified courses.

Andrea Sianesi, Dean of the School of Management of Politecnico di Milano, comments:

“The certification of Masters and digital learning courses is a highly topical subject for our potential students now that so many different courses are being offered online, and distinguishing among them is not easy. The seal of quality from international bodies such as the EMFD means that managers and executives can happily choose study paths where a large part of the lessons are taught online, in the clear knowledge that this greater flexibility, with everybody deciding independently when, where and how to go online, is joined by methodological rigour, a high level of teaching and personalisation, together with the “dowry” of personal contacts typical of face-to-face courses.”

Bentley University launches 18-month part-time online MBA program, one of the fastest in Greater Boston

Bentley University has launched a part-time accelerated online MBA program that allows students to earn their degree in as little as 18 months. The program responds to a changing job market in which working professionals do not want to put their careers on hold to pursue a full-time degree and companies increasingly see the MBA as a valuable asset that they desire when hiring new employees.

“Bentley’s new part-time MBA is designed specifically for the working professional who wants to continue advancing their career and strengthening their education at the same time, in a way that will boost their promotion ability and earning potential for the rest of their career,” said William Starner, director of the new program.

Rangarajan Sundaram Named Dean of NYU's Leonard N. Stern School of Business

NYU President Andrew Hamilton and Provost Katherine Fleming today announced the appointment of Rangarajan “Raghu” Sundaram as Dean of the Leonard N. Stern School of Business, one of the nation’s leading business schools and among the foremost providers of talent in finance and consulting, and more recently technology, fashion and luxury, and media and entertainment, among other areas of business.  He will take up his new duties January 1, 2018.

Professor Sundaram, who joined Stern’s faculty a little more than two decades ago, is the Edward I. Altman Professor of Credit and Debt Markets and Professor of Finance, and has been Vice Dean of MBA Programs since 2016.

Vincenzo Esposito Vinzi has been appointed the new Dean and President of ESSEC Business School

Succeeding Jean-Michel Blanquer, who served as dean and president of ESSEC from 2013 to 2017 and who is now the Minister of National Education, the challenges for the new dean will be twofold. He will be faced with the challenge of continuing to develop the school in accordance with the highest level of international standards while also maintaining its core identity as an excellent, French business school.

Upon his appointment, Vincenzo Esposito Vinzi said, “It is with a sense of joy and honor that I welcome my nomination to the post of Dean and President of ESSEC. I would like to thank the governing bodies and all the stakeholders for their trust. I will immediately get down to bringing together all the ESSEC community to make our Business School a reference. We will develop a lasting model that combines innovation and excellence to co-construct tomorrow’s knowledge and solutions at the service of the economy, society, and people.”

How financial management can make or break your start-up business

Financial Management was the main topic of the most recent ‘Vlerick Venture Talks’, a series of free inspiration sessions where entrepreneurs can share their experience with current students and alumni. The insights were provided by speakers including Executive MBA alumnus Joris Noreillie.

Financial management is the heartbeat of every business. However, a start-up or scale-up will focus completely different aspects to an established company. Additionally, many starters and growing businesses tend to underestimate the importance of financial management. Read more.