The business school is certainly one of the major success stories in higher education over the last forty years. Despite this success there have been many more recent comments and criticisms and about the purpose, role and academic stature of business schools.

It is time for continued debates about futures and the papers in this volume discuss a broad range of philosophical and curricular innovations that may catalyse new directions and futures for management education.

Spender, Chia and Estad et al focus on new models of management education anchored around the value of the university-based business school and principles of liberal management education. Thorpe et al address specific ideas about business model innovations from an UK perspective whereas Canals focusses on the global leadership skills required by the modern 'go-anywhere' global leader. Finally, Thomas et al examine and provide a range of scenarios for the future of management education which acts as a framework and guideline for assessing appropriate future directions in the field.