Some weeks ago we launched a question: ‘Should grants be seen as financial aid or as an investment?’ Since then, we’ve received a lot of contributions on Facebook, LinkedIn and Nexus., and these will be included in the debate on talent attraction and grant allocations that’s currently taking place at ESADE. Thank you all for your participation.
Here’s a summarised version of the main conclusions that we’ve reached together:
TALENT GRANTS AS AN INVESTMENT
ESADE should focus on attracting talent, regardless of the economic resources of prospective candidates, because in today’s globalised world all the international-level schools are competing heavily to attract the very best talent.
ESADE should be striving to maintain a level of excellence so high that talent from around the world will want to have the privilege of being admitted to our institution. In this sense, grants are primarily an element of prestige and an incentive to encourage every candidate, whatever resources they have at their disposal.
Talent grants also help promote equal opportunities and have a positive influence on society. On the one hand, this means that students with limited resources choose to study at the best schools and, on the other hand, students with exceptional talent influence their peers’ learning, bringing added value to the group and, by extension, contributing towards improving society.
TALENT GRANTS FOR THOSE WITH LIMITED RESOURCES
Awarding grants to students with limited resources is critical in terms of increasing social diversity in the classroom and enriching students’ learning environment. As a result, ESADE is also contributing towards the positive impact it has on society.
ESADE should be promoting equal opportunities through these types of grants; otherwise, we might see the situation arise in which there are people with plenty of talent but who, through not getting a grant, don’t get the chance to develop their full potential. In this sense, and in cases where candidates have similar levels of talent, the grant should always go to the one with fewer resources.
Something to bear in mind is that ESADE should be trying to find out how to attract these students, since a lot of them, in actual fact, don’t even think of applying to our institution. This could be because the education offered at ESADE doesn’t reach all corners of the social geography, or because they don’t feel motivated by a classroom environment, or perhaps because they’re afraid of the pressure that comes with being awarded such a large grant.
WHAT IS TALENT
Talent is not just about having an excellent academic record. Everyone will agree that a lot of variables have to be taken into consideration: emotional intelligence; a sense of responsibility; communication skills; a humanistic component; growth potential, among others.
HOW IS TALENT MEASURED AT ESADE
In the words of Eugenia Bieto, Chairperson of the Grants Committee: “We measure the objective, intellectual part by looking at peoples’ academic history and putting them through some very tough admission tests. The other part, the humanistic side, we get from the more qualitative elements of the candidate background. Interviews with candidates is a good opportunity to see if their values fit with those of ESADE.”
