Ensuring Business Curriculum Meets Employer Needs

The importance of strong curriculum cannot be underestimated. Universities sell their skills and knowledge to to students who are then snatched up by employers. Curriculum is the embodiment of that knowledge that determines brand value. Curriculum should continuously updated with industry knowledge, relevant theories and real life examples to ensure it is fresh and up-to-date.

Maintaining a leading market position in business education will require focusing more heavily on ensuring the needs of industry stakeholders are being met. This means that curriculum should always be focused on those skills employers seek to create higher levels of personal performance. 

I break curriculum into three areas that include foundational, theoretical, and market information.

Foundational is basic business knowledge needed to succeed as a professional in the market. This is information that will be used as a method of building more complex knowledge and understandings. Without the fundamentals of business, complex business thought cannot be produced in a way that will lead to a tangible outcome.

Theoretical is advanced knowledge of leading theories that solve common workplace problems. The theories are generally associated with the major functions of business such has human motivation, marketing, management, etc. Higher levels of education will lead to the incorporation of more theoretical aspects.

Finally there is market information. That information relates to modern examples, current marketplace problems, employer needs, and other market oriented information that adjust curriculum. Keeping information updated and relevant helps the school maintain its leading position that meets employer needs.