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Simply clicking on ‘likes’ in the social media world cannot solve the complex problems of our times. While these techniques quickly share information and mobilize large number of individuals, social media alone cannot solve complex issues related to global poverty. Even when information is adequate, the lack of analysis undermines the possibility of identifying long-term sustainable solutions. Richard Stern, President of World Vision, suggests that the reality of poverty is complex and requires more than compassion alone. “Poverty, whether here in America or abroad, is one of the oldest and most complex problems plaguing the human race. It is tangled in social, cultural, economic, political, ethnic, geographic, and spiritual factors that challenge even the most skilled experts. Simple solutions just don’t work, and well-meaning amateurs can not only waste valuable resources but even cause unintended harm in their efforts” (Stearns, 2013).
Moving at the speed of Twitter, the Millennial generation (also referred as Generation Y for those born between 1980 and 2000) is touched by glamour images of poverty, the resulting effect of the commercialization of philanthropy. Validated by a short-attention media world, a fast-paced culture and an instant-gratification mentality, Millenials seem to only get on board with easily digestible and manageable solutions. Yet, there are no fast and easy answers to complex issues such as world poverty. It is at this crossroad between “technological compassion” and analytical reflection where academia has the primary responsibility to educate, inspire and engage young generations into competent, critical, and deeper analysis.
Various studies on Millennials, the generation now entering higher education, show that these students place significant emphasis on technology (Paul, 2001) ethics (Goldgehn, 2004). They are a generation who love to volunteer and be involved. They are “strong advocates of social responsibility and care about the world, the environment, poverty and global issues in general” (Miller, 2004, p. 2). They represent a challenge for educators and higher education institutions not only to keep up with technology but also to make the teaching and learning meaningful and ethically relevant to issues of today’s society (Partrige &Hallam, 2006). Reducing education to merely instill skills for personal success would miss a great opportunity to develop socially conscious leaders capable of making the world a better place for all. Higher education, especially management education, needs to respond to these challenges and provide a learning environment based on the principles and practices of socially responsible management education. For Millennials, social responsibility is no longer optional. They expect that their employers, as companies and organizations, make a positive impact on society (Zogbi, 2008). They expect a management education with more responsible and synergistic approaches on key ethical questions concerning social responsibility, the environment, and the powerful effects of new technologies. Consequently, this worldview requires a change in management education, a change in leadership strategies and an expansion of views and approaches (Dhiman, Marques, & Holt, 2012).