MBA Education System – far way to go
Just few days back one of our professor asked us to prepare a presentation on B2B marketing based on any published academic research paper. This was surprising for us YES really because till now we have been used to do our study and presentation on practical and real scenarios or any hypothetical situations. But in this case we have been asked to follow somebody else’s research and support it which sounds very theoretical and useless to many of us. Is this correct?
To answer the above question lets first understand what the research paper is? Research paper is outcome of a research done to present an interpretation, evaluation or argument on any subject based on the collected facts and logical assumption. These research papers are the basis of many important decisions taken in each field let it be corporate or government and ofcourse us.
Yes I can understand that doing research is a time consuming activity and considered not very exciting by students or teachers. The main focus is on providing bookish knowledge which is based on past experiences which if we analyze closely are becoming outdated when compared to today’s fast changing world. No one is interested to study the current situation everyone wants a short solution to every question. We cannot blame only students for the deteriorating culture in B schools, teachers are equally responsible.
In B schools where everything is driven by logic, it is very necessary to promote the culture of research. We have to works with facts and figure where logic cannot be built by mere conviction, it must be supported by proper research work. The best way to rejuvenate the research aptitude in students is through a better academic curriculum. But it can only make them to indulge in such educational mode unwillingly. It should be made interesting which is only possible through building enthusiasm towards interest. Teachers should engage themselves with students and help them in their researches and if these papers are published it gives further impetus to the research aptitude. B School competition can also play an important role to promote such aptitude in students across B school. It’s not just the importance of research which can drive the students into such activity but surely the interest can do.