AMBA & BGA EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS
BIOGRAPHY Gavin Jack is dean of the University of Edinburgh Business School. His research expertise and interests lie in sustainable development, workplace diversity and postcolonial perspectives on management and organisation. Jack has taught and researched in a number of international contexts across Europe and Asia-Pacific, having worked for 15 years in Australia
What advice would you offer to other business schools that are seeking to establish such mutually beneficial relationships with industry? “One piece of advice is to approach relationships with industry as potential sources of mutual learning and innovation. Structure the partnership in a way that enables these values and benefits to emerge and be sustained over time. The partnership with NatWest has been one of the most inspiring and affirming projects we’ve worked on. In terms of how to establish such relationships, each business school is different, so know who you are and what you stand for and find organisations that align with your values and that you are committed to supporting.”
How is climate change currently covered in your MBA programme?
“Climate change forms an important part of our Strategic Leadership MBA core course, where students explore global climate challenges and how these should be addressed by leaders. Students can then specialise in this area through two elective courses: Business Strategy for Environmentally Sustainable Futures and Ethics and Sustainable Governance. They can also further their interests and expertise in climate change by focusing on an environmental theme in their end-of-programme capstone project. “Our MBA alumni, meanwhile, remain engaged with the school through a range of initiatives including networking events, public lectures and panel discussions on contemporary business issues, such as climate and sustainability. Current MBA students are also invited to these events, providing valuable opportunities to connect with alumni who are in the climate and sustainability space. These interactions offer students direct insights into career prospects, key challenges around transitioning to a net-zero economy and the policy settings businesses work within, locally and globally. At this year’s Global Alumni Day, for example, climate, sustainability and ESG were key topics for debate and discussion.” Should business schools be doing more to further understanding of climate change’s existing and future impact on business and society? “Attention has seemingly shifted away from climate change in recent months in the business and geopolitical spheres, but we know that attention will return and most likely with a different set of strategic tasks to implement with less time and more urgency. In the meantime, our work in this space continues – leaning into conversations that are taking place on nature and biodiversity, for example, or infrastructure investment. “In Scotland, a key challenge is ensuring the development of the 50,000 jobs required in the clean energy sector by 2050 and supporting the learning that relates to the recruitment and retention of those roles. Our role is to enable and inspire, to keep those at the frontline motivated to keep going and to amplify positive action where we find it. This is core to our mission as a school for better business futures and to the role of education as an enabler of change.”
The partnership has also led to a cross-university data-driven innovation research collaboration. Can you outline this project and its aims? “Alongside the climate education piece, colleagues in our team are involved in supporting other research collaborations with NatWest Group. The Centre for Purpose-Driven Innovation in Banking, for example, is a multi-year strategic partnership based at the university that includes the business school and the Edinburgh Centre for Financial Innovations (ECFI). “ECFI is a research centre focused on financial innovation and the digital economy. It is led by business school colleagues working alongside different disciplines (eg science, engineering, arts) to exploit the big data and computational evolution in financial services for societal benefits. Colleagues at the Centre for Purpose-Driven Innovation have already completed two consultancy and seven research projects (eg on quantum technologies for machine learning), delivering value for NatWest in this space.”
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