Bringing business people into the classroom: what students learn from industry professionals

Gaining a degree can be an important step towards starting a career in business. 

But while learning the theory of business is one thing, many employers will expect graduates to show them more than an academic qualification. 

They’ll want to see the ability to apply that knowledge from the very first day on the job.

“The step up from education to working is not only a difficult one, but also one that employers are increasingly concerned about,” says Brian Gregory, a senior teaching fellow at Lancaster University Management School (LUMS).

“They are looking for graduates who are ‘ready for the workplace’. So, the support industry professionals can bring may be invaluable for students in the future.”

With this in mind, many universities are choosing to involve business people in their courses. These experts can help students understand theories in a real-world context, with insights into experiences and processes from the workplace.

“Having the chance to interact with experts during their academic career better prepares [students] for what employers want and need from graduates,” says Brian.

Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect from business courses that include direct access to industry professionals.

Lancaster University Management School currently has 92 active practising business leaders, owners and practitioners on its Entrepreneurs in Residence (EiR) programme. 

These people come into the classroom to engage with students through a range of activities including talks, presentation panels, mentorships and dissertation supervision. It’s all about putting the theory learned from academics into practice.

“Academics teach students business theory, and to be critical in their thinking and approach,” says Brian. “Business people give the students a practical application and understanding of the academic teachings. 

“They provide a real-time perspective that students can use to support their own analysis.”

Business trends are constantly shifting, and a classroom-based business professional can connect students with this fluid landscape. 

They can underpin theories with contemporary thinking and research, bringing awareness of new trends, techniques and technology. 

What you’re learning in your course can then be discussed through this filter of someone who’s out there doing it right now. 

Bouncing thoughts and concepts off experts while you study can give you the confidence to step into a new role armed with some innovative ideas of your own. In this way, you gain an edge in future job or placement interviews: with a clear understanding of the issues currently impacting industry.

People working within a business will undoubtedly have encountered all sorts of dilemmas and setbacks, and their personal insights can prove advantageous for students. 

“Industry experts will often narrate lessons through their experiences: not only their successes, but also their failures,” says Brian. 

“Learning from somebody else’s mistakes is a valuable life skill, and engaging with business people who have made mistakes brings lessons, and often the supporting academic theories, to life.”

Maharani Hariga is the managing director of Adirani Digital Solutions and an EiR at Lancaster University Management School. 

A graduate of the university’s MSc E-Business course, she has co-founded two digital tech startups, one of which was shortlisted in the Foreign Innovation category at the 2021 Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

“Students benefit from the practical and hands-on experience that experts offer in the classroom,” says Maharani. “Due to the nature of the business I co-founded, the EiR requests I receive are usually digital tech-related, but some are more social-based.”

This practical experience often goes beyond the course, with some business experts continuing to mentor students well into their working lives.

As well as the knowledge and experience business professionals can offer, they may also have useful connections who could help further your ambitions. 

These networking possibilities can help you dive deeper into specific areas, providing a more focused approach to future job-hunting.

“I have seen students benefit from career opportunities simply through connecting with EiRs who are members of the local business community,” says Maharani.

If you are looking for a qualification that takes you beyond business theory, look at the institution’s links to industry experts. 

By finding a course that includes those kinds of connections, you could benefit from the real-world expertise business professionals bring, as well as the mentoring and career guidance options they offer. 

“If I were looking to take another business degree I’d like to see how involved the affiliated professionals are with the university,” says Maharani. “Are they active in the local business community ecosystem, so I can tap into it and connect with other professionals?”

Brian agrees. “If you are going to study business and management, why would you not want access to business people and experts during your studies? Would a student considering a law degree choose a university without access to lawyers and solicitors?”

Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) is one of the longest-established business schools in the UK and home to a thriving and truly international community. 

We are a triple-accredited research-intensive business school that combines world-class research with excellent teaching and high levels of student satisfaction. We welcome students and staff from more than 180 countries and have a presence in 24 countries, including campuses in China, Germany, Ghana and Malaysia.  

We challenge and support our creative staff, students and partners to realise their ambitions as they experience a transformational journey that leads to real impact on whole industries, societies and economies.  

Lancaster University is among the best in the UK, and has been the top university in the northwest of England for more than a decade.

To find out more, visit the Lancaster University Management School website.