We believe lifelong learning unleashes human capital, transforming the world. 

At the Wisconsin School of Business, we transform the world through our research and teaching. We offer the world insights and degrees and, to our alumni, a lifelong partnership. 

The industry of higher education is on the cusp of major transformation. We have come to understand the limitations of addressing our students all at once in classrooms where they sit behind linear tables. Recent developments in communication technology have demonstrated the power of addressing students online, one at a time, tailoring our teaching to their learning. This shift in the delivery of content has allowed many to access, sometimes for free, what was once available only in lecture halls for a cost. 

To thrive in this context, traditional research universities like ours must demonstrate the relevance of the on-campus student experience. At the Wisconsin School of Business, we have a long history of delivering participatory learning experiences. We also offer our students diverse and meaningful interactions with leading researchers and practitioners; these types of interactions are not replicable online. Therein lies the premium on which we will build our future. 

We will claim leadership in business education by staying true to who we are, while taking advantage of new teaching methods to challenge, support, and inspire our students to greatness. We will offer a hybrid of diverse experiences that combine customized online learning with live participative experiences organized around real questions, asked by real people, looking for real answers. We will provide opportunities for our students to interact with those shaping the industry: leading academics and practitioners among our alumni and corporate partners. And, we’ll add in the opportunity for some fun at the Memorial Union Terrace or Camp Randall Stadium that has no equivalent in the virtual world. 

The world is handing us a chance at leadership. Let’s seize this opportunity. 

Together, we shape the future. 

On, Wisconsin!

François

François Ortalo-Magné
Albert O. Nicholas Dean
Wisconsin School of Business
Twitter: @fortalomagne, @UWBusiness
Facebook: WisconsinSchoolofBusiness