The last reason to do an MBA is just for the degree, said Joseph Frank Brown, dean of INSEAD Worldwide, at the INSEAD Leadership Summit held in Abu Dhabi recently.
Instead, do it for networking and the learning experience, he said. Brown listed the top three reasons why students should pursue executive education, and gaining a credential came last.
"If the degree is the only reason you are doing an MBA (Master of Business Administration) then don't do it. The value of a credential is the last thing you should look at," he said.
Brown put a rewarding and enriched learning experience above all, followed by a potential network of contacts to be made.
"I believe when you do an undergraduate degree you are relatively immature and learn less than you should. By definition therefore I don't agree at all that it's a good idea to do an MBA after undergraduate education. You need six years of experience before an MBA."
Ranking networking as the second reason to pursue an MBA, he said: "Second, do it because of the people you are going to come in contact with. Hopefully that group is as diverse as it gets and diversity is important for innovation."
Emphasis on innovation
Brown believes fostering innovation is essential as there is a need for a generation of people who can question existing ideas. "We need people with spine. We need people with confidence and a willingness to challenge," he said.
Najla Al Awadi, a member of the UAE Parliament and Deputy CEO of Dubai Media Incorporated, also emphasised the importance of innovation. During a panel discussion at the summit, Najla spoke of the emphasis the UAE government is placing on quality education.
"INSEAD was brought here to contribute to that emphasis on quality education in order the place UAE nationals in strategic roles to have input into the growth of the country at every step of the way," she said.
She added that the country's projects cannot be sustainable unless Emiratis own these projects. "The long run is dependent on the national resources of the country which essentially are its people."
Start young
Najla, who also serves on the Education, Youth, Media and Cultural UAE Parliamentary Committee, said innovation should start as part of the education system.
"Children spend so many years ... in the system and if the right foundations are set they go out into the world and challenge existing ideas or find better ways to do things."
