An interesting article in the Independent about necessity of the MBA provided some statistics.

- Per year, around 120,000 MBAs graduate in the US and 50,000 in Europe - 30,000 of them are in the UK.

- A third of MBA graduates in the UK are female and their ranks are expanding

The article says that the MBA has shifted from an emphasis on academic knowledge ? finance, strategy, production, etc. to teaching how to 'manage complexity,' which means people?s thinking skills.

Another point stressed was that MBAs should include 'soft skills' which means appreciating how other cultures (with different institutional structures) tackle problems. I guess to expand on the 'global business' perspective.

The Warwick Business School has even created a behavioural science department. So I guess they're looking to intellectually make-over the MBA.

Has anybody heard of this trend in the UK?

I think this is part of a larger trend, where MBA programs are broadening their offerings not only to appeal to more students, but because they're starting to realize that a purely quantitative approach to curriculum does not make good graduates.

That said, those analytical and interpersonal skills are absolutely important for students to learn. I think Warwick's idea is great - and as far as this approach being implemented in programs in the UK, LBS has been requiring students to complete a "leadership program" for some time, where students can learn about the complexities of human interaction to help them get ahead in business. Sessions include "influencing and persuading," "mind mapping and memory," and "speed reading."