More business schools are supporting non-degree executive education programs today than just a few years ago. Among the current set of AACSB-accredited business schools, just 30% reported that their 2003-04 operating budget supported a non-degree executive education center, institute, or facility. In 2009-10, 45% were supporting this type of activity. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, though the recent recession and the related budget woes faced by many schools seems to have tempered the rate of growth, few schools have given up on their support of this activity.
Figure 1. Percent of AACSB-accredited schools supporting non-degree executive education center, institute, or facility, controlled for schools reporting in all years.
Source: AACSB International, Business School Questionnaire
Are we seeing the beginning of a larger trend toward greater emphasis on non-degree, executive education? Survey results announced recently by The International University Consortium for Executive Education (UNICON) suggest that further expansion is underway, at least among schools that already support such programs. The consortium, which represents 97 worldwide business schools, found several indicators of future executive education growth in a recent member survey.
Of survey participants, 65% predicted increased participation in their open enrollment programs this year, and 78% predicted an increase in customized executive education programs. And summer break? Not for many of the UNICON member schools, which report offering custom programs over an average 49 weeks of the current year.
Figure 2. Business Schools With and Without Executive Education, Distribution of Each Type by Faculty Size
Source: AACSB International, Business School Questionnaire
Not surprisingly, those AACSB-accredited schools that do support a non-degree executive education center, institute, or facility tend to have larger numbers of full-time faculty, as shown in above in Figure 2. But some small schools do find the resources to support executive education (or, alternatively, see executive education as a means of securing additional resources). Of the 66 accredited schools that had added non-degree executive education support to their operating budgets between 2003-04 and 2009-10, one in seven could be considered "small" (having 35 or fewer full-time faculty) in the 2009-10 year.
What is happening at your school?
Comments