Competitiveness, Productivity and MBAs III

Central European countries have been working in this since some years ago, this has been a very important topic and from this region a certain number of reforms that have influenced the world has emerged and have been laying the groundwork for structural change in education.

Last European Union Education Board of Ministers encounter have been taking part since the Bologna Encounter till the last reunion in Berlin (2003) and Bergen (2005). The Bologna Declaration, proposing the establishment of a European Higher Education topic (EEES), was the basis for the convergence of European education systems.

In 2001, the Prague Communique confirms the so-called Bologna Process and set new priorities, including stressing the importance of learning throughout life (Life-Long Learning, LLL), the active involvement of universities and the students in the process and the promotion of European Higher Education Area in the world.

The role played by UNESCO in the university reform, both the General Conference on Education held in November 1993 with the World Conference on Higher Education 1998, has been essential but not assertive. In the first, higher education was defined as "any type of study, training or research training in post-secondary level, provided by universities or other educational establishments that are accredited by the competent authorities of the State as higher education "(UNESCO, 1993). In the second, was the educational vision and model of higher education to be pursued in the twenty-first century.

This vision involved moving the center of the learning process: The Students and articulate a profound renewal in the university, causing far-reaching political reforms. These treaties and world events mentioned above, have not referred to as important as the implementation of a strategic university management based on the philosophy and organizational culture of universities.

The June 5, 2008 issue of The Economist, some important points that are close to this subject a little on philosophy and organizational culture of universities are mentioned there, things that should be urgently done. Among various points in this edition we highlight the following:

a. Greater degree of autonomy in universities, such as building foundations that allow them to recruit researchers who would have to pay them, according to the needs and research processes consolidation.
b. Innovation competition supported by companies that integrate the "learning by doing" (dual system).
c. Reduction of bureaucracy which would allow them to use independently the use of financial resources that could go to research and development.

The new concept named Corporate University is a term that is quite fashion lately in the United States and intends to combine university education with entrepreneurship.This concept has emerged as a result of strategies related to knowledge economy, this term recognizes the importance of creating sustainability in the business in the medium and long term, mainly with a focus on education.

Is quite noticeable nowadays, 16% of U.S. companies are looking for an alliance or partnership with traditional universities, and in turn, are persuading the universities to incorporate into their curriculum: the "... urgent need to cultivate this research and development attitude, same as creativity. " Intel, for example, offers its employees the opportunity to enrolling to an MBA program through Babson College, which in turn presents its subjects in an entire semester with cases by that company, Valencia Community College presents a range of annual profits ranging from $ 1.5 to $ 2 million dollars to support the education of the employees of Walt Disney and Universal Studios.

Ford owns Fordstar Institute University. Dell United Technologies Corporation that merged with Boston University, etc.., In Spain we have the case of Siemens in conjunction with the Alcala University Faculty of Economics and Business, they have created a hand in hand dual system linking business and education. This dual system main function is the learn by doing method. It starts from the classroom, it goes on cultivating attitudes and skills needed in business.

© Copyright 2010 - Henry Alzamora