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COVID-19 and responsible management education (RME) among others: why should public business schools feel threatened?

Mohamed Mousa (Department of Management, WSB University, Dabrowa Gornicza, Poland)

International Journal of Educational Management

ISSN: 0951-354X

Article publication date: 8 February 2021

Issue publication date: 20 April 2021

599

Abstract

Purpose

Through a multiple case study design, this article elaborates the chances of initiating and/or implementing responsible management education (RME) in Egyptian public business schools after the identification of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In other words, this paper identifies the effect of COVID-19 on internalizing RME in the previously mentioned context.

Design/methodology/approach

Through addressing four business schools in Egypt, this article explores the future of public business schools that did not previously implement responsible management education (RME) principles, after the identification of COVID-19. In other words, this paper identifies the main threats facing public business schools in Egypt post the spread of COVID-19.

Findings

Although the previous study done by Mousa et al. (2019a) showed that academics in public business schools in Egypt were not ready to implement responsible management education, and furthermore, that they thought that addressing socio-cultural aspects is the mission of professors in sociology and humanities, the results of this study show that the spread of COVID-19 has positively changed the situation. The interviewed academics assert that socio-cultural challenges shape the minds of business students, academics and trainers, and these accordingly, have to be tackled. Furthermore, the author explores some socio-political, academic and labour market threats facing business schools in Egypt today. Managing those threats may ensure the continuity of the addressed business schools and their counterparts.

Originality/value

This paper contributes by filling a gap in the literature on responsible management education and leadership in the higher education sector, in which empirical studies on the future of business schools, particularly those that did not implement responsible management education earlier, after the identification and spread of COVID-19 have been limited until now.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Funding: The project is funded under the program of the Minister of Science and Higher Education titled “Regional Initiative of Excellence” in 2019–2022, project number 018/RID/2018/19, the amount of funding PLN 10 788 423,16.

Citation

Mousa, M. (2021), "COVID-19 and responsible management education (RME) among others: why should public business schools feel threatened?", International Journal of Educational Management, Vol. 35 No. 3, pp. 579-593. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-10-2020-0453

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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