Zhi Yang, dean of the School of Management at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, remarked on the importance of publishing academic articles. Such papers should focus on topics that will help the school to stay relevant in these challenging times noted Yang, like for instance how AI will shake up the future of business. Kamarulzaman then related how Universiti Malaya decided last year to implement open-book exams, noting that it was “a tough time to make it happen”, especially in social sciences, where “you run the risk that students might just copy [one another]”. She noted that training was provided to design exam questions – “there was lots of coaching required to make it sustainable”. Bley talked about building a team with a strategic plan and said he believes the best approach is to have it headed by a dedicated individual who acts as a single focal point, since that is “more strategic”. Ideally, they should be “a faculty member from industry with an extensive network of contacts”. Yang noted that Huazhong University has created a lifelong learning centre, not just for students but also staff. “We push students to teach cases by themselves, so they go from being passive to active learners,” he commented. Kamarulzaman then remarked on the importance of collaborating with other faculties, sharing resources and expertise. She gave the example of the marketing faculty, which previously was a pure discipline but now works with the computer science team “to elaborate more up-to-date and relevant content”. Bley advocated that schools should have an in-depth understanding of how ERS principles apply to all walks of life, including in areas such as finance. They must also emphasise the point that it is not something that “can be imposed in a top-down manner, it must come from a grassroots standpoint – you need to engage with faculty and take them with you on the journey”. Focus on practical skills & employability Another panel session again looked at capacity-building, this time in the context of practical skills and employability. Jun Qi, assistant dean at the School of Management at Jinan University, referred to her institution’s partnership with professional services multinational PWC to identify the gap between what students need and what is being taught in the field of accountancy. Xingyu Chen, vice-dean at Shenzhen University, noted that they encourage faculty to “develop flexible programmes, including innovative short courses and workshops held at the weekend, some centred around research and others based on real-life scenarios”. Qi pointed out that Jinan University is actively promoting global education, having recently launched an MBA programme in Singapore; moreover, half of its students hail from Hong Kong, Macau and other overseas destinations. She added: “Our core courses are the same [as elsewhere], but our mission is to integrate Chinese culture, emphasising that ethnic element.” Panel chair Zhongming Wang, director of the Global Entrepreneurship Research Centre at Zhejiang University’s School of Management, then touched on how important it is to
The attendees found time to socialise and network during the conference
A wide range of sessions was curated to intrigue and inspire delegates
Jorg Bley shared his ideas on those ERS projects taking place at IBSS
Steef van de Velde explored capacity- building in business school leadership
24 | Ambition | FEBRUARY 2024
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