Tuck Adds Societal Leadership Program to M.B.A. Curriculum

In the 2007-2008 academic year the Tuck School of Business will introduce a societal leadership program to its curriculum, designed to give second-year M.B.A. students an additional hands-on opportunity to develop leadership skills by tackling complex social issues from a business perspective. The program will include a year-long elective course dedicated to a critical societal issue, and will establish a collaboration between Tuck students and Dartmouth undergraduates performing research and analysis through the new Paganucci Fellows Program. The program provides a summer internship and the possibility of continued work at Tuck throughout the following academic year to five undergraduates.

"As part of Tuck's strategy to offer the world's best leadership education, we are launching this program to better prepare our students to be responsible, engaged business leaders," says Tuck Dean Paul Danos, who conceptualized the program.

The course format will allow students to spend the fall and early winter studying an issue in the classroom, followed by experiential project-based learning in the late winter and spring. Subject matter for the course will include input from the incoming first-year class and will culminate in second-year course work and projects. Tuck students will collaborate with undergraduates on research and analysis. Dartmouth students awarded Paganucci Fellowships will dedicate a summer to researching and synthesizing information about the issue in question, with the option of continued work at Tuck throughout the following academic year.

The inaugural course will focus on microfinance as a vehicle for alleviating global poverty. Future topics will examine opportunities for businesses to create both positive social and financial value.

The societal leadership program complements Tuck's Allwin Initiative for Corporate Citizenship and the Cohen Leadership Development Program. The Allwin Initiative focuses on the intersection of business and society, where issues of corporate objectives and responsibility, ethics, citizenship, and leadership become paramount. The Cohen Leadership Development Program offers a combination of coursework and coaching designed to bring out students' unique leadership strengths.

By COLIN VAN OSTERN

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