Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/59976
As tough challenges confront management educators, AACSB International takes up the responsibility of being a thought leader on critical issues. It was fitting that the theme for AACSB International's 2005 International Conference and Annual Meeting was "the next horizon," since the organization is beginning an expansion into new territory. In the past five years, AACSB has undergone radical changes in its activities, its services to members, and its physical location. Although we remain focused on accreditation, we are now entering a new phase as we commit ourselves to thought leadership as well. There has never been a more crucial time for organizations such as ours to step forward and propose strategies for improvement in our field. I believe that if AACSB takes a strong position on critical concerns, the association can help lead deans and school administrators through times of potential crisis and shape debate on key issues. by Richard Sorensen Top Concerns We all know that management education is facing ongoing challenges posed by media rankings and the doctoral shortage. Additional topics that AACSB wants to address are the value proposition of management education and the ways busi- ness schools can develop closer ties to the business community. These areas of thought leadership were developed by the AACSB International board of directors during a comprehensive strategic planning process, drawing on extensive input from the membership. The board was building on the work of the Committee on Issues in Management Education, which I had the privilege of chairing during the past year. We will provide thought leadership by conducting research on keymanagement education issues and providing management educators with tools that will help them communicate with stakeholders. We've also created several new positions to help us build our thought leadership capabilities. NealMero, our newAssociate Vice President for Accreditation andDevelopment, will support accreditation development and lead efforts to secure research funding. We're recruiting an Assistant Vice President for Knowledge Services to focus on research and mine the growing AACSB business school database. StephenWatson, former principal of HenleyManagement College in the U.K., has become our first Scholar in Residence. He will complete projects related to thought leadership and also work with members around the world who are interested in seeking accredita- tion. In addition, the AACSBWorldHeadquarters will host visiting faculty scholars beginning this fall. BizEd SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2005 47