Can innovation be altruistic? The innovative process is traditionally driven by a desire to transform new ideas into a competitive advantage in order to achieve increased profits and ultimately a monopoly. At Dalhousie University’s School of Business Administration, it is driven in part by a need to differentiate its academic offerings from those of the competition, but innovation is rooted in a mission shared by its three sister schools of the Faculty of Management.
The mission of the faculty is ‘to become the acknowledged centre of values-based management in Canada, with an international reputation for developing private sector, public sector and civil society leaders who manage with integrity, focus on sustainability and make things happen.’ Realising this goal will result in more than new theoretical models for management; it will create new management practices and practitioners that will be the drivers of successful, sustainable economies. This goal is the antithesis of creating a monopoly; it is an altruistic goal to instigate a practical revolution in management practices.
“Being named the Most Innovative Business School in Canada by European CEO magazine is an affirmation of the advances we have made in creating new models for delivering management education and the potential they hold for producing a new generation of managers schooled in values-based management. While Canada’s businesses and, particularly, its financial institutions did demonstrate that the Canadian business environment is one of the most stable in the world, it does need to embrace new models and practices if it is to be sustainable. Our faculty has engaged the public and private sectors, its faculty and its students in a collaborative process to create innovative approaches to management education that have already begun to bear fruit. Receiving recognition from the European business community in the form of this award adds to the momentum we have created,” said Peggy Cunningham, Dean, Dalhousie Faculty of Management.
Innovation at Dalhousie’s Faculty of Management is fueled by its diverse faculty and student body and by the synergies made possible by its unique structure. It comprises the Schools of Business Administration, Public Administration, Information Management and Resource and Environmental Studies plus two integrative programs, the Marine Affairs Program and the Bachelor of Management program. Together, they serve over 2,000 resident students registered in two undergraduate programs, ten graduate programs, five combined graduate programs, and a multidisciplinary PhD. Students and academics benefit from the resources and research opportunities provided by the Centre for Family Business and Regional Prosperity, the Centre for International Trade and Transportation, the Eco-Efficiency Centre and the Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship.
More than a new model
All first-year graduate students are required to take Management Without Borders. This multidisciplinary foundation course places management in its broadest context and helps students from diverse disciplines understand the complex social, economic, ecological, political and technological forces that affect individuals and organisations. Key themes and skills explored include systems thinking, collaboration across sectoral boundaries, sustainable economic development and personal/professional development.
At the undergraduate level, the four schools of the faculty participate in delivering the Bachelor of Management Program. This program creates a new generation of managers through a holistic approach tailored for exciting management careers in the environment, information, public sector and entrepreneurship fields. Students may elect to declare one of seven possible majors that draw upon the offerings of all four schools to focus on their personal interests, better preparing them for management roles in their chosen field.
The Centre for Advanced Management Education serves over 350 mid-career professionals by delivering the MBA (Financial Services), MPA (Management) and Master of Information Management. Using a combination of online learning and end-of-term classroom instruction, these programs provide participants the opportunity to realise advanced educational objectives while pursuing a career in the financial, information management or public service sector. These programs have been developed in collaboration with employers.
Launched in July 2009, the Corporate Residency MBA program is unique in Canada. This 22-month program was designed for students with little or no work experience who typically enroll directly from their undergraduate degree or within a few years of graduation. Midway through the program, students embark on an eight-month corporate residency with one of the program’s Employer Partners. This is an exceptional, paid work experience with a top employer in the private, public or non-profit sector anywhere in Canada or around the world. Its innovative design was informed by close consultation with employers to ensure that students receive an experiential education relevant to the current needs of the marketplace. Employers see the program as a cost-effective recruitment tool that enables them to participate in shaping the next generation of management leaders. Through an advisory council, employers continue to inform the evolution of the program.
A balance between theory and practice
Striking a balance between theory and practice in order to create innovative approaches to management education is achieved with input from faculty, staff, students and employers.
Whenever programs are developed or revised, the business community is consulted to determine its needs. Ranked as one of the top service units of its kind in Canada, our Management Career Services Centre maintains a collaborative relationship with thousands of employers across Canada. These relationships ensure the success of students looking to fast-track their careers through co-operative work terms, corporate residencies, internships and career employment.
Innovative approaches developed through collaborative processes, anchored in values-based management theories and delivered by world-class faculty and staff are producing graduates equipped to manage with integrity and make things happen. Their success will contribute to a practical revolution of management practices that are sustainable and enriching for individuals, businesses and communities.
For more information write to: Dalhousie Faculty of Management, 6100 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3H 3J5 or visit www.management.dal.ca