Let's Make Sure Our Students Could Earn Their MBI

I recently came across the site of self-proclaimed World's leading futurist, Jim Carroll (http://www.jimcarroll.com/category/trends/education-trends/) He contends that tomorrow's leaders will not be able to survive on today's skills. In our rapidly changing world, thanks to technology innovation, business leaders will no longer need to know how to manage, administer and/or comply. Instead, the only people who will rise to the top are those who can creatively access readily available resources and problem- solve in creative and innovative ways. This is not a new idea (ironically). However, what I found refreshing in his writing was his notion that universities should do away with degrees such as the MBA and prepare students for the future by offering an MBI- Masters of Business IMAGINATION. Clever huh? A graduate with this degree would demonstrate the ability to: 1. See things differently and come up with new ideas 2. Foster creativity in others 3. Look for the potential in change; rather than view it as a threat 4. Refuse the status quo 5. Set future-oriented goals that embrace inevitable change 6. Posess the ability to gain "just-in-time knowledge" and then unlearn it just as easily when inevitable changes dictates it 7. Despises and refuses to use or listen to the word "can't" 8. Readily and enthusiastically faces challenges 9. Embraces change 10. Listens to and surrounds him/herself with people who are different and think differently 11. Refuses to say, "It won't work" and says, "How can we make it work?" This made me pause and wonder, what needs to change in our current curricula and pedagogy if we were going to prepare our students to enter into that type of university program? Are we graduating students at Ashbury College who would be good candidates for that program? If not, what would we need to change?