At ESADE, should we invest only in resources that allow us to offer the best possible academic education, or should we also invest in creating new knowledge? Is it important for ESADE to be a cutting-edge research school?
For two weeks, we have debated these topics on Facebook, LinkedIn and Nexus. The conclusions of this debate, presented below, will be incorporated into ESADE’s internal debate about its role as a generator of new knowledge.
Thanks to everyone who participated!
Most of the participants in the debate felt that ESADE should aim to become a point of reference in the creation of new knowledge. The following are some of the arguments they put forward:
Leadership requires research
The creation of new knowledge is a value that could set ESADE apart and consolidate its position as a leading school at the international level. Knowledge creation forms the basis of this position of leadership and is essential to attracting top faculty and strengthening the ESADE brand.
Research is also the basis of excellence; the two are intrinsically linked. ESADE’s future therefore depends on a strong commitment to this activity. The more we invest in knowledge generation, the higher ESADE will climb in the rankings.
Social impact
Investment in research, from the standpoint of social transformation, contributes to innovation and improvement in the management of businesses and legal organisations.
The important role of ESADE in Spain
Creating new knowledge that is internationally relevant is a long and costly process. Spain does not have a solid tradition of research. Therefore, ESADE’s investment in knowledge creation will be, if anything, more difficult, but at the same time more enriching, because it will have a greater impact both on the institution and on society as a whole.
Collective support
ESADE can take advantage of its network of students, alumni, faculty and affiliated institutions to create a support group that can provide enough human and economic resources to ensure that the process will be sustainable.
ESADE in the European context
Given the limited resources available to most European business schools, they should opt for creating their own model, adapted to their own reality, instead of adapting the American model of academic research. In this sense, ESADE could promote joint lines of investment with other European schools and take on a form of leadership that is at the same time more customised, yet equally relevant.
However, there are also some who believe...
ESADE’s top priority should be to invest in means of transmitting knowledge. We should take a realistic attitude towards research, drawing support from other institutions that are more efficient in this regard and avoiding the sort of investments that leadership in research requires. There could be different kinds of institutions: some specialised in knowledge creation, and others specialised in knowledge transmission. Perhaps the universities of the future will have to specialise in a particular link along the value chain.
