As the first business school in the nation, the Wharton School has always had a spirit of innovation, according to Wharton Dean Patrick Harker.
It was in this spirit that Harker held his first MBA Dean's Forum of the year yesterday in Huntsman Hall.
Attended by around 100 students, yesterday's forum was designed by Harker to discuss his goals for the future of the school, especially with the proximity of school's 125th anniversary in 2006.
"I was impressed ... by what the school's accomplished and what we continue to accomplish," Harker said.
Harker's vision for Wharton includes improving the engagement of alumni, achieving excellence in education, increasing the impact of the school on business practice, improving the global reach and influence of Wharton and strengthening the "Wharton brand."
Defining and marketing the Wharton message is Harker's "No. 1 job" this year, because he said he senses confusion in the market over what distinguishes Wharton from peer institutions.
For Harker, Wharton is distinguished by its "sense of being the innovators, of being the first." He added that "an uneasiness with the status quo" is Wharton's driving force.
Harker also focused on the results of last year's stakeholder report -- an annual survey of both students and alumni.
According to Harker, the survey showed the effectiveness of the school's new approaches in education.
The use of the Learning Lab -- Wharton's experimental laboratory that employs interactive tools like simulations, Web-based exercises and interactive programs to enhance the learning experience -- has greatly improved the education system at Wharton.
The report showed that 76 percent of students found the Learning Lab to be more effective than lecture.
Harker stressed the fact that he wanted to increase the use of interactive learning because "adults learn by doing."
At the event's conclusion, Harker fielded questions from the audience.
Students brought up topics ranging from changes in the learning environment to concerns about the affordability of the MBA degree.
"I was interested to see the key priorities of the school as seen from the engine room," said Daniel Simon, a first-year MBA student.
The forum was the first of two formal discussions Harker will hold with MBA students during the semester.
