Why Is There Lack of Growth in Character Virtues? An Insight into Business Students across British Business Schools

This chapter turns the spotlight on business-ethics education in the UK by focusing on the possible growth (or lack thereof) of character virtues among business-and-finance students from the first to the final year of study. Our findings highlight three key issues: 1) There is nearly zero growth in character virtues amongst the final-year business-school students after receiving their entire undergraduate education; 2) Whereas ‘honesty’ is regarded as the top character virtue among experienced professional practitioners in business and finance, it is largely overlooked by business students in general and final-year students in particular; 3) Business students’ self-reported motivations for pursuing a career in business and finance show that considerations of character development are largely overtaken by concern with the skills required for employment, and that their conception of success is strongly attached to material wealth and financial rewards. Our research findings address current issues and concerns in business education across UK business schools and call for a re-emphasis on ethics education and development of awareness of the significance of character virtues for business education, as well as in business and finance in general. In addressing these issues, the authors offer recommendations across three dimensions and under the three headings: modules, roles, and atmosphere.