Innovative leadership education: the Honors Program featured in EFMD's Global Focus
In a recent article in Global Focus, the magazine of accreditation organization EFMD, Managing Director Ingo Bayer, Program Manager Antonia Fleischer, and Head of Accreditation Christina Vonhoff explain the Honors Program in more detail.
The Honors Program is under the academic leadership of Prof. Dr. Oliver Spalt and has been specially developed for highly-performing bachelor's and master's students. The program combines artistic workshops, meetings with executives, academic reflection, and social projects. In these projects, students work together in small teams to design and implement their own initiatives in collaboration with local organizations like nursing homes, children’s hospices, or shelters. They organize activities such as inclusive events, concerts, art projects, and educational programs.
Learning beyond the classroom
By actively stepping out of their comfort zone, for example, in painting, dance, or music workshops, students develop creative thinking, deal with uncertainty, and engage in self-reflection. At the same time, they experience responsibility and ethical leadership in practice, both during meetings with executives and through the social projects.
The article in Global Focus emphasizes that leadership development goes beyond lectures and spreadsheets. By integrating art and social engagement into the Honors Program, Mannheim Business School not only helps students develop personally, but also contributes to growing societal expectations for responsible, values-driven leadership.