In June, executives from some of Britain’s biggest companies were to be found traversing a Norwegian mountain plateau in icy temperatures. The expedition was an option on the executive MBA programme at the University of Exeter Business School and participants had to navigate a route across 50km of trackless terrain in the Hardangervidda national park, near Bergen.

The group did not complete the challenge, but Stuart Robinson, EMBA director at the UK school, who accompanied them, says it was more effective at developing leadership than lectures — though it will not replace them.

“If you learn about economics, then you need to sit in a classroom and read books, as it’s mostly theory,” he says. “But developing leadership traits, including good decision making and emotional intelligence — that can only be done through real-world experiences.”