More than 700 deans from business schools around the world have participated in this new edition of the Deans Conference. For the first time, a European city, in this case Barcelona, has hosted the event. “It has been a great opportunity for us to get to know first-hand the keys to the strategic process,” said Marta Mas, “and to network with representatives of other institutions at a national and international level.” 

The theme of the conference collected some of the aspects that most concern business school leaders. There were discussions about the impact of artificial intelligence on the role of the dean, on the advancement of digital transformation in academic activity, and concerns such as the reduction of enrolment of new students due to the drop in birth rate were also shared. 

Other topical issues, such as opportunities for improvement for the traditional business school model, were addressed in the parallel sessions; building and empowering a team around a leader, fostering inclusivity and social impact, and enhancing the student experience.

The AACSB Deans Conference aims to foster connections and networking between different institutions on a global scale. Collaborative dialogues and discussions are encouraged along with discussion forums led by the participants themselves. The Faculty of Economic Sciences of UIC Barcelona obtained member accreditation of this prestigious academic association a few months ago.