Grammar Gazette- Issue 2, 2013

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ARTICLE

What’s NEXT?

AUTHOR

MIA FINLEY

big issues such as global warming and medical research. Regarding education, he explained the difficulty in teaching entrepreneurial skills and rationalised that the most valuable learning tool is experience. He suggested that more active incorporation of business experiences in tertiary education would improve the system, as university courses still provide the fundamentals and connections needed for success. I feel that, at Brisbane Girls Grammar, we are privileged to

IN TERM II, EIGHT YEAR 11 and Year 12 Economics and Accounting students were invited to accompany Principal Ms Euler and Director of Post Secondary Planning Mr Seaha to The University of Queensland Business School’s NEXT? The Future of Business Q&A Luncheon with Sir Richard Branson. Not only were we able to listen to the insights and debates of important business figures at this prestigious event, but we also met Sir Richard Branson and other future-thinkers in business.

What should be the most important change to what, how or where students are taught and how would this benefit business and society in the future?

receive an exceptional education, with our School offering a myriad of opportunities to further enhance our learning. As an Economics student, I have been presented with many unique and motivating experiences, such as this event and the Ecoman programme. These opportunities will undoubtedly be valuable to my intentions of embarking on business studies at university, and be advantageous to my future business career prospects. All of the ideas and concepts discussed at The Future of Business Q&A were enlightening and stimulating for the girls attending, and the experience is certain to be beneficial to our studies and future endeavours.

The panellists included academics, business people and, of course, magnate Sir Richard Branson. The panel discussed their views on where business is headed in a worldwide context. Questions ranged from topics such as the education systems of the twenty-first century to hypothesising what developments might follow the industrial and technological revolutions. Speculations of ‘what’s next’ in business considered the impacts of technological advances and environmental issues, and how these could be used to benefit the evolution of business. Perhaps most relevant to the many students attending were the questions regarding modern schooling structures: Are education systems failing twenty- first century students? What should be the most important change to what, how or where students are taught and how would this benefit business and society in the future? Sir Richard Branson emphasised the importance of science, technology and engineering studies to enrich society by further developing human capabilities in the

IMAGE What’s Next? — Elizabeth Redmond, Ingrid Williams, Ashley McGregor, Mackenzie Geeves, Millicent van der Velde, Sir Richard Branson, Alexandra Perry, Ms Jacinda Euler, Grace Wright, Mr James Seaha and Mia Finley. Courtesy of The University of Queensland Business School. Photographer Dylan Evans.

GRAMMAR GAZETTE