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Arabian Business Schools:

Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Impact

Unlocking the Potential of Arabian Business Schools to Lead in a Transformative Era.
By Mohammad Alomar
CEO, Globalis Consulting Group
March 1, 2024
Why do Arabian business schools remain absent from global rankings, and what does this absence signify for the region’s economic aspirations? While Harvard, MIT, and Oxford redene the nexus between academia and industry, Arabian institutions grapple with isolation and inertia. The pressing question is no longer why this gap exists but rather how it can be bridged to secure a transformative role for these schools in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

A Stark Absence from Global Leadership

The rankings of global heavyweights like Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan School of Management, and Oxford’s Saïd Business School underscore their dominance in shaping leaders, inuencing corporate practices, and producing impactful research. Journals such as Harvard Business Review (HBR) and MIT Sloan Management Review serve as the cornerstones of business literature, setting benchmarks for academic excellence and practical relevance.
In contrast, Arabian business schools remain conspicuously absent from these arenas. In 2024, no Arab institution featured in the Financial Times MBA rankings, and only Rabat Business School in Morocco appeared in the Masters of Management category. This absence reects a broader failure to engage meaningfully with regional and global corporate landscapes.

The Global Standard: Bridging Academia and Industry

Institutions like Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford excel in connecting academic theory with real-world practice. Their approach is anchored in collaboration, leveraging the expertise of renowned CEOs and business leaders who serve as lecturers, executive fellows, and guest speakers. These luminaries bridge the gap between academia and industry, offering students an unparalleled window into complex business challenges.
Examples include:

Bill George, former CEO of Medtronic, teaching authentic leadership at Harvard Business School.

Hubert Joly, who led Best Buy’s remarkable transformation, inspiring students at Harvard.

Jeff Immelt, former CEO of GE, sharing his strategic insights at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.

Toto Wolff, leader of Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, enriching Saïd Business School’s curriculum as an associate fellow.

Such practices inject real-world relevance into curricula, equipping students to navigate dynamic markets. Unfortunately, Arabian business schools have yet to adopt such transformative methodologies, perpetuating a cycle of theoretical insularity.

The Dual Challenge: Isolation and Inertia

Arabian business schools face two signicant challenges: isolation from the corporate world and inertia within academic systems. Many remain conned to traditional academic frameworks, producing graduates ill-prepared for the demands of sophisticated markets. The corporate sector, in turn, often bypasses local academia, favoring global consultancies for leadership development and strategic planning.

These challenges are compounded by:

Rigid Academic Systems

Resistance to integrating seasoned industry professionals into teaching roles.

Limited Data Access

Weak governance structures and opaque corporate practices stie meaningful research and case study development.

Minimal Collaboration

A lack of partnerships between academia and the corporate world perpetuates irrelevance.

The Cost of Stagnation

Arabian business schools face two signicant challenges: isolation from the corporate world and inertia within academic systems. Many remain conned to traditional academic frameworks, producing graduates ill-prepared for the demands of sophisticated markets. The corporate sector, in turn, often bypasses local academia, favoring global consultancies for leadership development and strategic planning.

In stark contrast, global institutions thrive by transforming academic centers into prot centers, producing incisive research, and driving corporate and economic progress. For Arabian schools, the longer reform is delayed, the greater the gap between potential and impact.

Lessons from Global Leaders

To bridge this divide, Arabian business schools can draw inspiration from leading institutions. Key strategies include:

Executive Fellowships

Recruiting industry leaders as fellows or lecturers to enrich curricula and inspire students.

Case Studies

Developing regionally relevant case studies, akin to those produced by global business schools and published in journals like HBR, to address local challenges while contributing to global literature.

Collaborative Research

Partnering with corporations to generate actionable insights that benet both academia and industry.

Journals like MIT Sloan Management Review and Harvard Business Review are exemplary in showcasing cutting-edge research on innovation, leadership, and strategy. Arabian schools could emulate this model, producing research that tackles regional economic and social issues while adhering to global standards.

Opportunities Amid Transformation

Despite these challenges, the Arabian business landscape offers unique opportunities. Economies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are undergoing profound transformation, creating unprecedented demand for skilled leadership and innovative strategies. Arabian business schools are uniquely positioned to meet this demand—if they embrace a forward-thinking approach.

To realize this potential, institutions must:

Forge Stronger Partnerships

Collaborate with regional and global corporations to align curricula with market needs.

Attract Global Talent

Recruit leading academics and industry professionals to elevate teaching and research.

Invest in Research

Commit to producing high-quality, actionable studies addressing regional and global challenges.

Inspiring a New Era

Integrating real-world expertise into academic settings is not merely aspirational; it is essential. Imagine Arabian business schools hosting CEOs from Aramco or Emirates Airlines to share their insights with students. Envision classrooms where local case studies complement global theories, creating a bridge between academia and industry.

Arabian business schools stand at a pivotal crossroads. The choice is clear: embrace reform and emerge as global inuencers, or risk being sidelined in the race for progress. By adopting innovation, fostering collaboration, and prioritizing excellence, these institutions can transform from cost centers into prot centers, driving economic and social development across the region.

The path forward demands bold action, inspired by global best practices and grounded in the Arab World’s unique opportunities. Only then can Arabian business schools claim their rightful place on the global stage, shaping the leaders of tomorrow and enriching the corporate and academic landscapes for generations to come.