Group ISCAE at the AACSB Deans Conference 2026

Prof. Tarik EL MALKI, Director General, at the heart of the global debate on the future of management education

Prof. Tarik EL MALKI, Director General of Group ISCAE, took part in the AACSB Deans Conference 2026, held from October 19 to 21, 2026 in Orlando (United States). More than 600 deans and leaders of business schools from around the world gathered under the theme “Driving Change in Business Education.”

A global gathering focused on change

This edition, the largest worldwide gathering of business school deans, highlighted three disruptions that are forcing institutions to reinvent themselves:

• Disruptive technologies, foremost among them artificial intelligence;
• Geopolitical shifts, which are reshaping the business world and higher education;
• The role of business in society.

This participation reflects Group ISCAE’s commitment to staying aligned with the best international practices in management education.

“Group ISCAE’s participation in the AACSB Deans Conference 2026 confirms a strong conviction: the future of management education will be determined not only by technology adoption, but by our ability to train leaders capable of judgment, ethics and adaptation. Artificial intelligence must be integrated across our programs, without ever replacing the human element. At ISCAE, we want to turn this transformation into an opportunity to strengthen experiential learning, meet the expectations of adult learners, and prepare our graduates for an ever-changing business world,” said Prof. Tarik EL MALKI, Director General of Group ISCAE.

AI, the top priority amid uneven preparedness

The Deans Survey 2026-27, presented in Orlando, gathered responses from 558 deans across 75 countries. 87% of them rank AI as a high or very high priority, yet only 1 in 5 say they are well prepared. In addition, 74% place it among their top three challenges for the next five years.

This gap between the importance given to AI and the skills actually available was at the heart of the discussions. Sessions covered, among other topics, the use of AI in accreditation, its ethical implications, and its integration into teaching, research and administration.

Keynotes on talent and leadership

In the first keynote, Johnny C. Taylor Jr., CEO of SHRM, addressed job displacement by AI and the need for large-scale reskilling. He urged deans to move from a reactive stance to that of architects of a resilient workforce. A second keynote focused on purpose-driven leadership in an unpredictable world.

Key takeaways from the 2026 edition

• Integrate AI across all programs rather than limiting it to an optional course.
• Develop critical thinking and ethics rather than favoring a prohibition-based approach.
• Promote experiential learning, notably through simulations, now recognized in AACSB standards.
• Meet the specific expectations of adult learners, particularly in continuing education such as the Executive MBA and Specialized Master’s programs.