School hosts Chartered ABS Professional Managers’ conference
16 December 2016
Cardiff Business School hosted the Chartered Association of Business Schools (Chartered ABS) Professional Managers’ Annual Conference 2016 (PMAC 2016) from 12 – 13 December.
The Chartered ABS stated in its pre-event literature that: “Professional services teams have a critical contribution to make to the success and sustainability of their institutions and play a key role in managing financial, social and environmental risks, obligations and opportunities.”
More than 100 delegates from over 45 business schools were welcomed to the School’s Postgraduate Teaching Centre for the two-day conference designed specifically for senior representatives of the professional services community working within business schools and faculties. This was an opportunity for this community to collectively reflect on shared challenges, discuss best practice and develop new networks around the theme of ‘Thinking the Unthinkable – The Structural and Organisational Implications of Major Change’.
Professor Martin Kitchener, Dean of Cardiff Business School, opened proceedings by introducing the School’s bold and progressive Public Value strategy, which underpins all of its teaching, research and governance. In a passionate presentation, Professor Kitchener outlined the ‘need to inculcate a moral sentiment of social value in faculty across business schools’, to ‘enable the promotion of improving social and economic conditions to students and other stakeholders’.
Dr Andrew Glanfield, Cardiff Business School’s, School Manager, who leads a 60 strong professional services staff, chaired the event, which has been acclaimed by both attendees and the Chartered ABS alike as one of the best PMAC events to be held. Professor Julian Gould-Williams, Professor of Human Resource Management within Cardiff Business School also led an insightful session on academics and professional services working together in pedagogic partnerships.
There were three excellent keynote addresses over the two days, including Robin Geller, Registrar at the University of Bristol who focused on the new and major challenges in the HE environment such as, the globalisation of HE, increasing political uncertainty and the increase in student expectations.
Tom Robinson, President and CEO at AACSB International, reiterated Martin’s sentiments that social value should be integral to business and management education and research. He went onto propose a greater tie between academe and practice and called for “more cross-disciplinary research” to enable business schools to fulfil their role as “enablers of global prosperity and catalysts for innovation.
Kim Frost, Director of HR at the University of London, gave a highly engaging keynote address on the leadership and management skills needed for successful managers.
The two day conference included a Gala Dinner, held at Cardiff Castle, which provided delegates with additional opportunities to network and develop new professional and working relationships.
Read the Chartered ABS summary of the conference. You can also read a blog from Professor Julian Gould Williams, titled: Identifying and Recognising the Contributions of Professional Services Staff.
