Integrating Sustainability & Innovation into Education to Shape Future Changemakers

Reetika Gupta leads ESSEC Business School’s APAC campus in Singapore, fostering industry, government, and academic collaborations. She champions thought leadership in sustainability, digitalization, and entrepreneurship while enhancing student experiences. An award-winning educator and researcher, Reetika has published in top journals and previously taught at Lehigh University, USA.

In an engaging interaction with Global Woman Leader Magazine, Reetika shares her insights on how business schools are adapting to digitalization and hybrid learning, embedding sustainability into curricula for real-world impact, and fostering deeper collaborations with industry and government to drive entrepreneurship and digital transformation.

Read the article to know more about Reetika’s practical take on creating next-generation of global business leaders through the right learning approaches and more.

With rapid changes in the education industry due to digitalization and hybrid learning models, how do you see business schools adapting to meet the evolving needs of students and industry partners?

The education landscape is evolving, with the increased adoption of digitalization, AI, and hybrid learning models. Digital competencies and literacy have become essential for most management jobs, so it is imperative for business schools to include these in the core curriculum.

To adapt to this changing industry, business schools must prioritize digital literacy,  for example, by developing programs like the MSc in Marketing Management and Digital (MMD) offered at ESSEC, that teach students the concepts and tools of digital marketing. Further, lifelong-learning, in the face of technological disruption, is becoming more widespread.

Accordingly, business schools must also transform to create offerings related to these topics that enable students to return to the business school more than once in their careers. Enhancing campus infrastructures with advanced tools and technology-enabled classrooms, and implementing robust digital systems, are other ways to support the needs of students and industry partners.

Finally, business schools can leverage data analytics to offer personalized student support services, which is essential for staying competitive and relevant.

As sustainability becomes key in corporate strategies, how can academic institutions embed sustainability into their core curriculum to equip students to drive sustainable practices in the real world?

Sustainability is more than a trend to follow, it is a necessary pillar that enables us to build a desirable future for all. There is greater scrutiny of a firm’s ESG impact, and increased regulatory frameworks around sustainability. For example, the introduction of carbon tax implies that the awareness of sustainability implications must become part of an organization’s DNA, and the rise of more sustainability-sensitive consumers implies the need for professionals in Marketing to be aware of sustainability trends. Academic institutions must therefore embed sustainability concepts and case studies into their existing core curriculum to equip students with the knowledge and skill sets to face our ongoing ecological and social challenges and offer positive solutions. This can also be achieved in a focused manner by developing sustainability-based courses that specifically address sustainability principles, practices, and challenges, such as ESSEC’s MSc in Sustainability Transformation.

Beyond textbook knowledge, institutions should also emphasize social sustainability and craft relevant experiential learning opportunities through project-based initiatives with corporate, government, and NGO partners, such as ESSEC’s partnership with the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) for our 20th Anniversary, where students, faculty, and staff will pledge 2,000 service and skills-based volunteering hours over 2025. These opportunities blend economics with ethics and provide students with hands-on experience in developing sustainable solutions.

Case studies, competitions, consulting projects, and internships are also useful platforms for students to work on sustainability-related ventures with real-world impact. An example of this would be the ESSEC Case Competition for High School Future Leaders, where students pitched innovative and sustainable business strategies to sustainability-focused partners including Sustenir and Terra Water Indonesia.

Finally, institutions can provide support and resources to student-led initiatives, such as sustainability-focused clubs and organizations, and engage students in sustainability challenges. This empowers students to champion sustainability, both in and outside of the classroom.

How can educational institutions create deeper and more impactful collaborations with industry and government, especially in fostering entrepreneurship and digital transformation?

Embarking on joint research initiatives with industry partners can be a meaningful way for educational institutions to bridge the gap between academia, industry, and government. For example, through our chairs, ESSEC is partnering with organizations including Accenture, L’Oreal, and BNP Paribas, to develop specialized courses and research in areas related to digital disruption and leadership.

We also cultivate our students' entrepreneurial skills to prepare them to thrive under uncertainty through out-of-the-classroom experiences. For example, our ESSEC Ventures program currently incubates over 140 venture projects led by our students in sectors ranging from alternative protein to new funding models for emerging artists.  We also organize the largest student hackathon dedicated to impact entrepreneurship in Singapore in partnership with the Singapore University of Technology Design, which brings together over 200 students from all universities and polytechnics to work in multi-disciplinary teams on social and/or environmental impact ventures.   

With the rise of digital natives and the demand for more personalized learning experiences, how should educational institutions rethink student engagement and delivery models to remain relevant and competitive?

To remain relevant and competitive, academic institutions must adopt innovative strategies that align with the evolving expectations of modern learners.

Interactive multimedia plays a crucial role in capturing students’ attention and fostering greater motivation. Additionally, business schools can leverage online platforms that facilitate collaboration and interaction, allowing students to connect with their instructors and even industry experts. The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) further enhances learning by personalizing experiences, boosting engagement, and improving overall outcomes.

Business schools can also support faculty development and training by providing them with professional development opportunities to enhance their digital literacy, pedagogical skills, and industry expertise.

A student-centric approach also involves direct communication between leadership and students. By taking the time to meet with students (whether as a group or one-on-one), business school leaders can better understand their needs, and refine their strategies to remain student-centered and effective.

How should business schools design their programs to foster entrepreneurial thinking among students, and what role should experiential learning play in this?

To foster entrepreneurial thinking, business schools should design programs that emphasize both theoretical and experiential learning, from entrepreneurship modules, to hands-on initiatives like the Junior Consultant Experience (JCE), which invites ESSEC students to develop their own entrepreneurial projects. Outside the curriculum, business schools can also involve students in events, such as the Create4Good Hackathon, organized by ESSEC, and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), where students lead projects to tackle social and environmental issues. These initiatives spark innovation, and instill students with an entrepreneurial spirit.

How should universities leverage digital tools to innovate in areas like student recruitment, industry partnerships, and faculty development?

Digital tools have a transformative role in supporting and enhancing student recruitment. Institutions can use digital campaigns informed by data and analytics to connect with students and host online events, such as virtual information sessions, open houses, and webinars over Zoom, to engage prospective students and their parents globally.

How can institutions ensure that students not only acquire theoretical knowledge but also develop the practical skills?

ESSEC adopts a learning-by-doing approach to ensure students acquire both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Likewise, business schools should leverage internships and real-world projects with industry partners to provide students with opportunities to apply their knowledge in real-world settings.

For example, in most programs at ESSEC, students participate in student consulting projects where they work in teams to tackle real-world problems for our corporate partners. Business schools can also supplement students’ knowledge with insights from guest lectures and workshops, where industry leaders share their experiences and offer training on industry-specific skills, and mentorship programs, which connect students with industry professionals or alumni for further guidance and support.