This issue’s cover story addresses the problems and challenges of a massive if largely overlooked sector of education – the thousands of sound and solid universities and other institutions that are outside the tiny group of “elite” fellows. Generally, they offer excellent education and produce worthy graduates, but Mark Farrell and John A Davis fear they are under threat, arguing that “non-prestigious institutions that do not harness the power of technology, do not reduce their high-cost base and do not recognise that the needs of students can be met with a variety of innovative delivery models will become extinct. Gender neutrality persists in business schools, prompting calls for inclusive measures from Dianne Lynne Bevelander and Michael Page. CEOs worry about talent management’s efficacy, prompting Martin Moehrle to assess its current state, whilst Udo Steffens and Michael Grote argue that while impactful research is valuable, rigorous scientific thinking is paramount.