Shaping Future-Ready Graduates Through Leadership in Business Education

28 Feb 2025

7 Min Read

Professor Siong Choy Chong (Academic Contributor)

IN THIS ARTICLE

Today’s rapidly evolving global landscape, marked by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), prompts an important question: what does it mean to produce future-ready graduates? There have been growing calls for business education to go beyond core business concepts and instead prepare graduates to navigate and lead in an ever-changing world.

Leadership, once associated with authority, now encompasses a broader spectrum of qualities, values and approaches. This evolution is especially relevant for business graduates, who must be equipped not only with technical expertise but also with the soft skills and ethical grounding needed to thrive.

Redefining Leadership for a Changing World

Business education must evolve to reflect this reality. The emphasis should be on the 4Cs (critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity) while fostering innovation, and integrity-based leadership. At the same time, graduates must have a deep understanding of emerging trends such as technology, sustainability, and global markets.

Equally important are emotional intelligence and inclusivity. Graduates who demonstrate flexibility, empathy, resilience and humanistic values are better positioned for long-term success.

Quality business education should integrate these essential qualities and prepare graduates to tackle the demands of a VUCA world and drive positive change. For instance, a forward-looking business school curriculum should foster critical thinking and data-driven decision-making through real-world case studies, simulations, and reflective exercises. Modules on data analytics, statistical modelling, and software applications ensure graduates are prepared for technologically advanced workplaces.

Sustainability must also take centre stage. Projects that encourage students to address pressing societal challenges—such as financial literacy for senior citizens or entrepreneurial solutions for underserved communities are vital. These experiences build empathy, humanistic values, and the capacity for ethical decision-making.

Institutions today must adopt a comprehensive approach to business education, equipping students with entrepreneurial mindsets and leadership capabilities. Emphasising multidisciplinary learning, they should foster collaboration across diverse fields. For instance, some institutions, such as Taylor’s University, encourage students to collaborate with peers from various faculties or programs to transform innovative ideas into tangible solutions.

Empowering Students Through Holistic Business Education

Entrepreneurial skills are also a key focus at leading business schools like Taylor’s Business School (TBS), which offer initiatives such as accelerator projects and incubators to instil adaptability, resilience, and innovation in students. By embracing technological advancements, including generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools and data-driven decision-making, these programmes ensure graduates are future-ready.

Aside from that, the internship module further hones multiple critical skills, including lifelong learning, equipping students for the challenges ahead. TBS has established strong partnerships with numerous local and international corporations, offering students invaluable real-world exposure to the practical aspects of leadership and business management.

Over the years, TBS students have achieved remarkable success in various competitions both locally and internationally, reflecting their exceptional business acumen and leadership capabilities. The employability rate of TBS graduates remains consistently high, with many alumni holding prominent positions in leading corporations.

TBS’s holistic approach has resulted in accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the world’s longest-standing accreditor of business education and a globally recognised gold standard of excellence. This prestigious accreditation, held by only 6% of business schools worldwide, assures students of a world-class education tailored to modern business demands, equipping graduates with a competitive edge in the job market. TBS’s AACSB accreditation highlights its unwavering commitment to developing graduates who excel academically and embody ethical, innovative leadership, ready to navigate the complexities of the global economy.

In a rapidly changing world, shaping future-ready graduates is no longer a choice but a necessity. Leadership in business education must go beyond traditional teaching to instil critical thinking, adaptability, and a commitment to ethical decision-making. The future demands leaders who not only excel in their fields but also contribute positively to their communities and the world at large, making the pursuit of future-ready education a vital endeavour.

Professor Siong Choy Chong is the Founding Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law at Taylor’s University, where he led the university’s Business School to achieve AACSB accreditation. Prof. Chong has made significant contributions to the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), including the development of two programme standards and several guidelines to good practices, as well as being consulted on the national and international qualifications and quality assurance frameworks.

He has also been a senior assessor and reviewer for various regional and international bodies, including the ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) and the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE). His work has extended to UNESCO, where he helped develop key guidelines for qualifications frameworks in Asia and the Pacific.

This article was also published on Sin Chew Daily on 18 March 2025.

BACK TO NEWS & ARTICLES

{{ firstlevel.title }}

{{ firstlevel.title ? firstlevel.title : vm.computedTitle(firstlevel.path) }}

{{ secondlevel.title }}

{{ secondlevel.title }}

{{ secondlevel.title }}

{{ secondlevel.title }}

{{ thirdLevel.title }}