remove fraud, but we can minimise it to give all test takers an equal playing field.” The Pearson Vue worldwide network of centres oversees some 19.5 million exams a year and the computer-based exams are transmitted and stored in an encrypted form. WRDS: Victoria Kent, associate director of client development at WRDS, part of the Wharton University of Pennsylvania, began her session with an interesting statistic: higher education research contributes 25 per cent of total R&D among OECD countries, a figure that has grown from 14.5 per cent in 1980. She then identified a number of key trends in the management education sector. First up was the increasing pressure to publish in top journals, a result of increased competition, stemming in part from the way in which technology allows for unprecedented access to information. The second trend was that of empirical research, which tends to be a lot more visible and have access to a greater number of outlets than theoretical studies in the fields of business and finance. The third trend was the increasing use of massive databases such as Compustat and Bloomberg, while the fourth related to an increase in co-authored articles. Trend number five looked at the difference between the data emerging from the US compared to that from other countries; some 76 per cent originates from the former. The sixth and final trend related to the need to become aware of new topics. These include asset pricing; market microstructure; investment; financial intermediation; and corporate finance.
GMAC’s Ramnik Aulakh espoused the many benefits his company offers to business schools and students
Sponsor sessions Flywire: How to increase enrolment while streamlining the payment process was the presentation given by Patricio Hughes, sales manager for Latin America at Flywire. He outlined methods schools might utilise to increase enrolment, including cultivating a consistent brand; domestic and international recruitment events; the use of education agencies; and search engine optimisation. Flywire can give schools a streamlined payment experience, saving both institutions and their payers time and money. In the context of academia, the company can assist with enrolment payments and tuition fees. It offers disbursement in specific bank accounts; a localised payment experience integrated to the student portal; an easy reimbursement process; chargeback protection; and real-time customer support. GMAC: Ramnik Aulakh, responsible for market development at the graduate management admission council, popularly known as GMAC, began with his company’s mission statement: “To create a world where every talented person can benefit from the best business education by providing the tools and information necessary for schools and students to discover and evaluate each other.” He then turned to the GMAT assessment, which he described as “the top choice for MBA admissions”, used by some 2,400 schools, in 7,700 programmes and across
more than 110 different countries. GMAC marketing solutions offers “a myriad of advantages for recruitment efforts, including targeted outreach and a comprehensive database of candidates”, explained Aulakh. These include market intelligence, which provides data and insights that enable schools to understand current trends, as well as factors shaping the candidate pipeline. GMAC Tours, meanwhile, is a trusted resource to help candidates find programmes that will meet their professional needs and create opportunities for a successful future. The third element is GMAC Media, which creates sponsored posts from the company’s social handles, while the Grad Select tool allows schools to target their audience to fit their recruiting and marketing requirements. Pearson: Describing itself as “the world’s learning company”, Pearson operates in more than 70 countries providing content, assessment and digital services to learners, educational institutions, employers and governments, as well as other partners. Head of assessment Alejandro Gil highlighted the Pearson Test of English, a portfolio of computer-based tests using AI technology to provide proof of a candidate’s English skills. The test is said to be able to overcome the main challenges involved with ensuring fairness: human bias, accuracy and security. It also tackles identity fraud, test day fraud and cheating. As Gil said: “We can’t 100 per cent
Patricio Hughes from Flywire outlined ways to boost enrolment while streamlining ways to pay
28 | Ambition | DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024
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