Today I had an opportunity to attend a panel discussion by several experts on climate change and energy policy. With the 2008 presidential election only 2 weeks away, Heinz Endowments and CMU invited the panel experts to present their policy advice for our next president.

Teresa Heinz introduced Moira Dunn, the moderator, and the panelists.

It was a real joy to hear the world’s leading experts debating on this really important and incredibly complex topic. Dr. John Holdren, recipient of the 7th annual Heinz Award for Public Policy, presented compelling arguments for the seriousness of the problems. Dr. Granger Morgan, an expert on engineering & public policy, asked the new administration for more funding in green enginnering R & D before China gets ahead of the USA, while Dr. Lee Branstetter, an expert on international economics, rooted passionately for cap and trade. CMU master’s student Melissa Young presented a fresh perspective from the younger generation. Finally, Moira Dunn energized the crowd with her upbeat and dynamic approach to moderation. 

More information about the event is available at http://heinztalks.blogspot.com/

Should service learning be incorporated in management education?

According to wikipedia, The National and Community Service Act of 1990, which authorized the Learn and Serve America grant program, defines service-learning as:

“a method under which students or participants learn and develop through active participation in thoughtfully organized service that is conducted in and meets the needs of a community; is coordinated with an elementary school, secondary school, institution of higher education, or community service program, and with the community; and helps foster civic responsibility; and that is integrated into and enhances the academic curriculum of the students, or the educational components of the community service program in which the participants are enrolled; and provides structured time for the students or participants to reflect on the service experience.” ^[1]

Traditionally, service learning has been implemented K-12. However, it is not clear why the same ideals, principles and programs can’t be extended to graduate programs. Students in MBA and Executive MBA programs could benefit from service learning experiences by applying their newly acquired management and leadership skills to the common good. 

People usually are not seeking opporunities to provide community services when they sign up for E/MBA programs. However, the growing importance of corporate social responsibility suggests that contemporary E/MBA programs should take it as their duty to produce manangers and executives who think more seriously and creatively about their firms’ social responsibility. This duty calls for novel approaches to higher management education. A great source of inspiration may be the service learning community.

Wikipedia is a good starting point for finding resources about service learning. 

This volume looks like a great reference for service learning in management education:

“Working for the Common Good: Concepts and Models for Service-Learning in Management. AAHE’s Series on Service-Learning in the Disciplines.”