AACSB 2025 Report Highlights Emerging Trends Transforming Business Education 

KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 (Bernama) -- AACSB International has released its 2025 State of Business Education Report, highlighting key transformation areas shaping business education globally.

AACSB president and chief executive officer, Lily Bi in a statement said the report serves as a valuable reference for business schools and their stakeholders.

“By highlighting major developments occurring across our industry—backed by AACSB's comprehensive data and enriched by the insights and expertise from members throughout our global network—this report captures a pivotal moment in business education,” she said.

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Drawing from global surveys, institutional data, and expert perspectives, the report identifies five major areas of change, including financial viability, enrolment trends, workforce readiness, faculty roles, and leadership complexity.

The study found that over 75 per cent of business school leaders cite financial models as a major concern. In response, schools are diversifying revenue streams, forming strategic partnerships, and adapting to changing public funding and tuition structures.

While applications for undergraduate and master’s programmes are increasing globally, MBA enrolments are declining in certain regions. International enrolment trends are also mixed, with a 26 per cent drop in the Americas at the undergraduate level but significant growth in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). At the master’s level, international enrolment has risen across all regions, especially in Asia Pacific and EMEA.

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The study also highlighted the growing emphasis on workforce readiness, with employers and educators stressing the need for graduates to develop a combination of human-centred skills such as communication, resilience, and ethical leadership, alongside technical proficiency in artificial intelligence and hands-on learning experiences.

AACSB further noted that faculty roles are evolving, with institutions rethinking incentives and support structures to retain top talent and prevent burnout, especially in high-demand fields. Meanwhile, business school leaders face increasing complexities in managing financial and regulatory challenges while fostering global collaboration.

The report is based on extensive stakeholder engagement, including 14 regional roundtables and a survey of nearly 900 business education leaders from 83 countries and territories.

It also integrates proprietary data with insights from leading organisations such as the Graduate Management Admission Council, McKinsey & Company, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

AACSB has also relaunched its Business School Data Guide for the first time since 2021, released alongside the 2025 report, offering expanded insights into key trends shaping global business education.

-- BERNAMA