MBACONNECT Lord Ashcroft International Business School Magazine|issue 6
www.anglia.ac.uk/aibs www.anglia.ac.uk
1
Welcome to the latest issue of MBAConnect, YOUR e-newsletter. We have now been sending this out to you for a year and I hope you have enjoyed receiving the news. We think this is a great way to keep you in touch with your University and all that’s happening here, but if you have any ideas about other things you would like to see featured please email me at alumni@anglia.ac.uk. Also, don’t forget to sign up for your dedicated MBA group at http://uk.linkedin.com/in/angliaalumni.
Contents
We were delighted to hear recently that for those universities in the East of England which recruit undergraduates, the most recent league table of the proportion of students in work or further study six months after graduating has us in second place after Cambridge University. Out of the whole 131 UK Higher Education institutions we were placed 28th, a tremendous achievement. This is especially important given that gaining employment after study will become ever more important to students with the imminent degree price increases forced by changes in government policy. There has been much in the papers about the effect of these increased fees in 2012 on the recruitment of students. Here at Anglia Ruskin we are delighted to have received enough applicants to fill all our places for September 2011. We had a great time at our annual MBA get-together at the Royal Overseas League in London at the beginning of August. This year the weather was kind to us so we were able to have our welcome drinks outside in the beautiful garden backing onto Green Park. After a delicious dinner we enjoyed listening to Raut Roy telling us about the history of our MBA and developments within the business school. Our guest speaker was Mike Southon (the ‘Beermat Entrepreneur’) who kept us entertained with a very lively, yet thought provoking, presentation on entrepreneurship and the qualities needed to succeed. The Beatles featured regularly, as did their music! The Q&A session prompted a lot of discussion and the evening had barely finished before we had to be out of the room. This was a very successful event and we are already thinking about next year. Some alumni expressed a wish for the dinner to be held on campus in Cambridge so they could have a tour of the developments, some asked for the dinner to be held earlier in the year. We will therefore be emailing you a short questionnaire in the autumn so that we can establish what the majority would like, so please do complete it and have your say. That’s all until next time, so look out for the questionnaire, enjoy the articles, and keep in touch! Kind regards
Sue Jacobs Head of Development & Alumni Relations
1
Brazilian perspectives
1
Great reminders of your time at Lord Ashcroft International Business School
2
Member of Parliament for Witham to give talk to students
3
The Institute of International Management Practice (IIMP)
2
LAIBS supports Leatherback Turtle conservation in Trinidad
3
Intoxicated at the Brewery
4
Developing Wind Energy in Ukraine
5
Supporting the validation of ‘The Responsible Business Standard’
6
Volleyball stars swap court for classroom at Anglia Ruskin
Brazilian perspectives We were delighted to welcome Professor Leo Bruno from the Fundação Dom Cabral (FDC) Business School based in Belo Horizonte, Brazil to our University in June. FDC is ranked by the Financial Times the third best business school in the world in 2011, and works in close partnership with over 400 businesses in Brazil. In 2007, FDC were accredited by the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS). FDC is located in the State of Minas Gerais and near historical cities such as Ouro Preto, whose baroque architecture has led UNESCO to name it a World Heritage Centre. Professor Bruno met with John Rayment and Jonathan Smith from LAIBS to discuss ideas from their new book entitled Misleadership, discuss how FDC works with businesses, and explore possible joint research that might be conducted, particularly connected to leadership, culture and innovation. Jonathan says: “We have been developing our links with FDC for a number of years including interviewing senior academics on their views of the future of business schools, attending conferences and developing a Global Leadership module together. They are also members of the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative which LAIBS have close ties with. Leo Bruno is one of their top researchers and this visit enabled us to advance our partnership on several fronts.”
John Rayment, Professor Leo Bruno and Jonathan Smith outside the Lord Ashcroft International Business School in Chelmsford
Dr Jonathan Smith, Senior Lecturer E: jonathan.smith@anglia.ac.uk T: 0845 196 2069
John Rayment, Principal Lecturer E: john.rayment@anglia.ac.uk T: 0846 196 6859
Great reminders of your time at Lord Ashcroft International Business School On-line merchandise store – NEW! The Marketing Team in the newly named Lord Ashcroft International Business School (LAIBS) have been working over the last few months on developing a range of faculty branded merchandise which we are happy to announce will be available from September 2011.
The items include: • Hooded sweatshirt (£20) • Polo shirt (£15) • T shirt (£10) • Slazenger laptop/document bag (£25) • 2 GB wristband USB (£7.50)
Initially, five items will be available for purchase via an on-line store (currently under development) or, in the meantime, orders can be placed via the Marketing Team at marcoms.laibs@anglia.ac.uk.
Any one of these items would be a reminder of your time here at LAIBS so do visit our On-line merchandise store to make your selection. If you are overseas postage and packing will be added to the price above. Marketing, Communications and External Liaison T: 0845 196 6842/6822/6833
1
Member of Parliament for Witham to give talk to students We are delighted that Priti Patel, Member of Parliament for Witham, Essex, has agreed to come to the University to give a talk to our 2nd year students on the BA International Business programme. As a way of enhancing the students’ learning experience, Robin Gowers, Senior Lecturer in LAIBS, arranges each year for a number of high profile speakers to come in and talk to his students. With Priti’s background and interest in entrepreneurship and education this will be an excellent opportunity for students to gain some practical insights to link into the theories covered on the course. The talk will take place during Robin’s lecture on Tuesday, 27 September in the Michael A Ashcroft Building (MAB221) between 10.00 and 11.00 in the Michael A Ashcroft Building (MAB221).
An invitation to this event is also extended to 1st and 3rd year students and our MBA alumni. If you would like to attend please advise Hannah Myatt (hannah.myatt@anglia.ac.uk) as places are limited.
Dr Robin Gowers, Senior Lecturer E: robin.gowers@anglia.ac.uk T: 0845 196 6853
The Institute of International Management Practice (IIMP) You may be aware that, thanks to generous financial support from Lord Ashcroft, LAIBS has established an applied business research institute, the Institute of International Management Practice (IIMP), which will be centred in our new building in Cambridge. We believe a specific focus area is essential if the Institute is to achieve the world-class status we are committed to and have therefore defined its mission as:
•
Research bid support
•
Advocacy and representation within the faculty to help researchers get the time they need to do their research
We held our first Annual Conference for IIMP on the 8 September in our new building in Cambridge. This is an exciting new venture and wide faculty participation in IIMP and contributions from colleagues in other faculties was encouraged.
Whilst it is true that IIMP is therefore not an umbrella institute to encompass all the research activity of the Business School, the IIMP will be open and inclusive. For those researchers who become members the IIMP will do its best to provide: A research community where researchers can meet, discuss, exchange and test ideas
Research administration support
The IIMP will be highly focused – but inclusive; it will encourage and support researchers with skills and interest in our area and a willingness to apply their research skills and efforts to the IIMP agenda. For example a researcher, investigating the 3rd sector with specific focus on the creation and management of social enterprises, might have a clear component of their work which intersects with innovation and enterprise in growth-oriented business. Because this fits within the research agenda of IIMP, it would actively support this research.
“To be internationally recognised by businesses, academics, investors and public policy makers for the relevance, quality and rigour of its research in enterprise, internationalisation and innovation as they relate to growth-oriented businesses”
•
•
Professor Keith Dickinson, Interim Director of IIMP T: 0845 196 3669 E: keith.dickinson@anglia.ac.uk
2
LAIBS supports Leatherback Turtle conservation in Trinidad nesting beach with the aim to improve the chance for survival for thousands of hatchlings. Nature Seekers is the best example of a community based eco-tourism in the world and they have won a number of awards for their work with local communities and conservation. Their founder, Suzan Lakhan Baptiste, has turned a beach from a leatherback turtle graveyard to a nesting colony. She has recently appeared on CNN to collect an award from Hilary Clinton. Since 2001, the Lord Ashcroft International Business School has been working with the School of Accounting and Management (SAM) in Trinidad & Tobago to offer undergraduate, and more recently postgraduate courses, in Business and Management to people in the Caribbean region, which is why the collaboration with Nature Seekers is close to the heart of LAIBS’ business.
think4photop / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Simon Evans, Senior Lecturer in Tourism at the Lord Ashcroft International Business School, has just returned from Trinidad after meeting with Dennis Sammy, Director of Nature Seekers to develop joint research into community based eco-tourism project surrounding marine turtle nesting on Matura Beach in NE Trinidad, one of the world’s most important leatherback nesting locations. The Nature Seekers is an organisation which works closely with the local community to patrol this key
Simon will be working closely with Suzan and will be giving talks to local community and providing education and training to local eco-tourism guides. Simon Evans, Senior Lecturer, Leisure and Tourism E: simon.evans@anglia.ac.uk T: 0845 196 6875
Intoxicated at the Brewery As part of the Enterprising Academics Scheme being operated by our University, Dr Jonathan Smith from LAIBS in Cambridge has just returned from four days working at Adnams in Southwold. This highly prestigious Suffolk brewery has an Anglia Ruskin Honorary, Andy Wood, as its Chief Executive and is one of the UK’s most environmentally friendly companies.
environment, engaging with the local community, and valuing employees. It is hoped that the project will facilitate a closer relationship between Adnams and Anglia Ruskin University and the research conducted by Jon whilst he was there will also be used as part of the research he is involved with at the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative. This research aims to draw together examples of responsible leadership across the globe.
Although involved in diversifying their product for a number of years, Adnams are perhaps best known for their Brewing of Real Ales, which began in 1872 and for which they have recently been awarded Brewery of the Year for 2011 by The Good Pub Guide. They also produce Gin, Vodka and Whisky and have a large wine distribution centre (see www.adnams.co.uk). Jon has returned from Adnams not intoxicated by the alcohol though but by their excellent management practices! Their commitment to long-term sustainability, quality, environment, community and its employees are exemplary.
Adnams are also keen to be involved in the research Jon is proposing which will explore how HE, businesses and the professions are embracing and embedding the idea of responsibility into their practices and standards. Jon will be submitting a grant application to the ESRC shortly to support this research.
Areas explored during the time at Adnams included shareholder commitment, vision, values, growth paradigm, planned and emergent strategies, spiritual dimension to leadership, ways of developing shared purpose, motivation, reward and talent management, employee engagement, improving the
Dr Jonathan Smith, Senior Lecturer E: jonathan.smith@anglia.ac.uk T: 0845 196 2069
3
Developing Wind Energy in Ukraine I recently completed the MA in International Business at the Lord Ashcroft International Business School in Cambridge. My dissertation focused on the development of wind energy in my country – Ukraine. Ukraine is one of the largest European countries with a population of over 45 million people. My research focused particularly on the Crimean region, as Crimea is one of the most attractive regions of Ukraine in terms of investment. Crimea is an autonomous republic under the jurisdiction of Ukraine and is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea occupying a peninsula of the same name. The peninsula does not only have a favorable economic and geographical location, but has huge potential to develop the industrial infrastructure, and has easy access to the markets of Ukraine, CIS, Europe and Asia. The priority area of development requiring urgent and significant investments is the energy sector. Crimea has a population of more than 3.5 million people but produces less than 20% of its own electricity; the remaining electricity comes from the mainland.
The country though is at the very beginning of exploring wind energy, and energy efficiency needs to be put at the top of the political agenda. This change will take time. The country needs to adapt legislation that stimulates energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources. Perhaps tariffs will have to be increased and energy companies will have to be penalised through taxation or other measures for the use of fossil fuel. Those measures certainly cannot be adopted quickly.
The overwhelming majority of scientists today agree that our globe is undergoing major climate change. It has also been apparent in recent years that the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is rising significantly. Do we sit and wait, or exploit every opportunity from every source, including wind, solar and other new technologies in a potentially favorable region like Crimea?
However, this move towards opening the market for investment and new technologies along with energy policy reforms, I believe, could finally move Ukraine into the system of European energy interconnections that will not only stop the Crimean peninsula being reliable on the energy coming from the mainland but could possibly reform the whole country’s reliance on a single energy supplier. The transition to wind energy can also help significantly to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
As part of the research I interviewed Igor Zosimov, the Minister of Energy for the Crimean region. He stated that it is possible to make sure that Crimea has sufficient supply of electricity by using traditional forms of energy, but there are many obstacles to the use of fossil fuels considering the environmental disadvantages that it brings. The unique nature of the Crimea, an area that attracts year round holidaymakers, would be destroyed by burning oil, natural gas or coal. Wind power generation technology is clean and emission-free, and like all renewable energy sources, it develops the energy from natural forces and does not have any polluting consequences that are normally associated with fossil fuels.
Kateryna Voznenko MA International Business
4
(left to right) Julie-Ann Hogbin, Low Carbon KEEP Program; Jemma Little, Research and Development Commercial Services, at Anglia Ruskin University; Beatriz Acevedo, Lecturer in Sustainable Management at Lord Ashcroft International Business School; Kevin Bentley, Cabinet Member for Essex County Council for Economic Development and Waste & Recycling; Jill Poet, Director, Organisation for Responsible Businesses; Iain Wicks, Essex FSB Regional Chairman; Mike Wilson, Organisation for Responsible Businesses.
Supporting the validation of ‘The Responsible Business Standard’ As part of the ongoing efforts in promoting sustainability in the regional community, Anglia Ruskin University and the Essex Federation of Small Businesses partnered with the Organisation for Responsible Businesses (ORB) for the Official Launch of The Responsible Business Standard: the Standard has been developed by ORB as a platform that allows SMEs to develop responsible practices in the workplace, market place, environment, community and values, and other business processes.
that the University is developing: Mrs. Jemma Little from Research Development and Commercial Services (RDCS) presented an overview of the many programs and initiatives for supporting regional development and knowledge exchange; Miss Julie-Ann Hogbin described the Low Carbon KEEP initiative and our commitment with the agenda of sustainability; and Dr Beatriz Acevedo (LAIBS) explained the process of collaboration with the Organization for Responsible Businesses in the validation for both the content of the Standard and the processes involved in carrying out the audit.
Jill Poet from ORB explained why responsible practices mean better opportunities for doing business for SMEs, given the increasing attention that procurement offices, organisations and companies are giving to the corporate responsibility agenda. Academics from the Lord Ashcroft International Business School (LAIBS) and the programme Survive & Thrive (Enterprising Academics) have been supporting this organisation in the process of validation of the Standard.
Dr Acevedo emphasised that these types of collaboration are part of the University’s commitment to Sustainable Development and the efforts in this regard by the Committee on Education for Sustainable Development, the Lord Ashcroft International Business School and the Global Sustainability Institute. Dr Beatriz Acevedo BEng, MA, MBA, PhD, Fellow HEA, Lecturer in Sustainable Management E: beatriz.acevedo@anglia.ac.uk T: 0845 196 5039
The event was held on the 22nd June, 2010, in Chelmsford and was attended by 40 delegates coming from SMEs, local government and other organisations. This event was also an excellent opportunity to promote the numerous programmes
5
Volleyball stars swap court for classroom at Anglia Ruskin Olympic hopefuls take part in special business seminar in Chelmsford
“The experience was enthralling, and proved to be invaluable for leaders dealing with major challenge and change within their business.” John Rayment
The Great Britain Women’s Volleyball team swapped the court for the classroom on Wednesday 27 July, when they took part in a special seminar at Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford. “Preparing to Perform: Lessons for Business Leaders” enabled local companies and business leaders to learn from the team’s experiences, which saw them overcome adversity to secure a place at the Olympic Games. The players were informed last August that they had lost their entire UK Sport Lottery Funding. However, they refused to give up on their dream of representing Great Britain next summer and – after months of hard work and sacrifice – they have been told they have now met the criteria needed to take part. The seminar focussed on retaining focus and morale; achieving training goals; and examining the physical, spiritual and mental factors necessary to become a successful athlete. The experts discussed these issues – and their relevance to business leadership – using a holistic development model called The Global Fitness Framework, which has been produced within Anglia Ruskin’s Lord Ashcroft International Business School. John Rayment, Principal Lecturer in Decision Making and Problem Solving at LAIBS, said: “This was a unique opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes insight into a team preparing to compete in next year’s Olympics.
Editor: Christine Durrant (Marketing, Communications and External Relations, LAIBS)
If you have any news or information you feel would be of interest to your fellow MBA Alumni please send your copy to me. The next issue of MBAConnect is due out in December 2011 and the deadline for copy is the 28 November 2011 (good quality images to accompany your articles would be good too). Additionally, if you have any suggestions as to the type of content you would like to see in the newsletter then please let me know.
MBACONNECT Websites: www.anglia.ac.uk/alumni www.anglia.ac.uk/aibs
6
Publishing & Advertising 4935/9.11/DS
E:christine.durrant@anglia.ac.uk