OUR CURRICULUM DEEPENS Executive Education at Menlo In an initiative led by Dr. Mouwafac Sidaoui, Menlo College has added some exciting new offerings to its Executive Education program. Lifelong learning is essential for those engaged in today’s business and technology world. Executive Education at Menlo harnesses the innovative thinking and passionate engagement of our faculty to offer programs for professional development, leadership, and personal growth. These programs not only contribute to Menlo’s educational mission, they also provide important opportunities for dialogue between Silicon Valley professionals and the Menlo community. Menlo now offers a certificate program in Driving Business Outcomes with Data Science using Design Thinking. The program is designed to create a shared understanding between data scientists and designers so we can get the most out of this powerful collaboration. The Rendanheyi Silicon Valley Center was founded in 2020 at Menlo College in collaboration with the Haier Model Research Institute. The center offers courses and webinars in management techniques for a business landscape characterized by rapid technological development and disruptive innovations. Recent offerings include “From Empires to Rain Forests: Haier’s Rendanheyi as the Model for Success in the Platform Era” and “Winning In The Digital Age: Leadership and Management for the 21st Century.” Dr. Annika Steiber is the center director. Menlo’s Webinar Series is open to all, with a variety of events that address topical issues. Past webinars have addressed “The Future of Smart Cities,” “Our Voice, Our Equal Future,” and “The Value of Self-Regulation in Difficult Times.” The Real Estate Center Lecture Series offers insight into trends in the commercial real estate space in the Bay Area and beyond. This spring’s topics included “The Construction Process for Commercial Real Estate” and “Innovations in MixedIncome Housing: The Coliseum Apartments and Townhomes in Oakland.” Dr. Margaret McFarland is the center director.
Accelerated Program for Students to Graduate Early Dr. Mouwafac Sidaoui, Dean of the School of Business, is exploring a pilot pathway to a bachelor’s degree in three years for business programs. This pathway would be one option for students seeking to embark early on their careers while reducing the investment needed to obtain their degree. The three-year modality would include summer and midyear intersession classes, and other arrangements that Sidaoui and his team are defining. They are working out the details on how students who graduate at this faster pace would be able to complete their required internships and, if they wish, study abroad. The aim is to provide every Menlo College student more flexibility so that they and their families can tailor their education in a way that suits their particular situation.
31 SUMMER 2021
