Strategies for Business Schools in a multi-polar world

The paper addresses the issue of management education and research in a multi-polar world. Empirical studies of BSchools in six regions suggest that accreditations and rankings have led to strategic convergence, as most players mimic leading American BSchools. This appears as a paradox as a multi-polar geopolitical arrangement would suggest a variety of needs according to institutional, social, political and economical contexts. We discuss strategic options available to Business Schools in various regions of the world. We suggest that while the US is still dominating the scene of management education worldwide, other players from other regions may be wakening up, not necessarily in a catching up paradigm, but possibly on a differentiation mode, thus offering alternate ways of thinking and educating for business practice.