As businesses become increasingly global and demand outstrips the supply of skilled managers and professionals, the relationship between human resources (HR) departments and executive education providers is changing.
Business schools and other providers are increasingly viewed as knowledge partners rather than vendors in the corporate war for talent. Helen Lange, dean of business management programmes for U21Global, said the complex needs brought about by globalisation and a knowledge economy had led to increasing demand for skills and competencies that were not learned on the job or from a first degree. As a result, executive education had become essential, for the organisation and the individual.
Narayan Pant, dean of executive education at Insead, said in the past HR managers sourced programmes that would fill the competency gaps in certain positions.
'Now the challenge for HR is balancing the needs of the individual and the organisation, using executive education to bring about specifically needed change in the organisation,' he said. 'The shift in focus is because talent is truly becoming the key source of value in an organisation.'
Human resources director (Asia) for Rolls-Royce Patrick Burns said from an HR perspective, 'for companies that have developed a competency framework, executive education offers the formal learning that supports the skill and knowledge requirements needed for success'.
A recent DDI survey of jobseekers illustrated how much value professionals placed on opportunities for development in a role. This was cited as the most important factor in a new job.