They are important incubators of knowledge and talent, and ought to be the natural bridge to enterprise. They are a key plank in the strategy to close the productivity gap. We have come to realise that the highest standard in management education and research cannot be achieved in a system of funding which spreads resources evenly across all institutions, producing a flat model of quality rather than developing centres of excellence. To date, centres of excellence like Ivey have had to thrive in spite of their funding environment. While daring for Canadian institutions, a market-driven model of competitive funding is the only one that can support excellence in management education today.
Business schools compete in a global marketplace.
They serve the needs of students and companies who work in that marketplace. They must make tough decisions about their position in the market, regionally, nationally or, like Ivey, globally. And those decisions must be followed by sound tactics and innovative funding. For Ivey to compete successfully in that market, we must take our fate into our own hands. We must broaden our income base and become more accountable to our students and business partners.