MBACONNECT Ashcroft International Business School Magazine|issue 2
www.anglia.ac.uk/aibs
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Welcome to the second issue of MBAConnect, the new e-newsletter exclusively for YOU, our Anglia Ruskin MBA graduates. It only seems a few weeks ago that I was writing the alumni welcome for the first issue – how time flies! Since then we have held the launch of the MBA Network with a dinner in London – you can read about the evening further on in the newsletter. It was great to meet so many of you and to get your feedback on what you would like. Not surprisingly, another dinner was a very popular request. We will work on this, so if any of you would be willing to be a guest speaker then please let me know. This network will only work to its best potential if you get involved and participate. John Rayment did mention an upcoming conference in his presentation, and I hope some of you will want to come along to that. For full details please contact John Rayment on john.rayment@anglia.ac.uk. Another request was an MBA group on LinkedIn to give a further opportunity for networking and exchanging ideas. We already have an MBA page on Facebook, but will look into also setting something up on LinkedIn for you. A third request, which I spoke to a few people about, was the possibility of having an MBA members directory online, giving contact and business information. We are looking into this to see if it is feasible within our current web page and will get back to you as soon as we have any information. Obviously, nothing would be posted without your permission. As I mentioned last time, please make sure you keep us up to date with any address and email changes so we can contact you quickly and easily when we need to. At the dinner several of you mentioned friends who had not received an invite – this would only have been because we had no current contact details for them. So please pass on this message to your friends and ask them to contact us on alumni@anglia.ac.uk so they can be included in future mailings. Well, I think I’ve said enough for now. Please do give us your feedback on content – or even send something in yourselves – so that we can tailor future issues to the type of things YOU want to read about.
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CMI Greenwood Memorial Prize
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MA Global Communication – First cohort graduate
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MBA Residential/ Paris Conference
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AIBS academics support VIth formers’ business challenge
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Tiger Tourism and Conservation Strategies
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Spring 2010 Ventures Academy – Where ideas come to life
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Business School students advise Virgin Money
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AIBS develops a BA (Hons) Sales degree with Harrods
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MBA Alumni Network Inaugural Dinner
Kind regards
10 Alumni co-authors book – ‘Racing Towards Excellence’ Sue Jacobs Head of Alumni Relations
CMI Greenwood Memorial Prize We are delighted to announce that Wayne White (MBA, 2010) has been chosen to receive the CMI Greenwood Memorial Prize this year. Wayne is a Foreman in a transport depot and has been a great success on the programme. His dissertation was on the effects of employing Polish drivers. This decision has been based on the reflection of: o
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Success on the programme
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The fact that he presented his dissertation at the International Federation of Scholarly Associations of Management (IFSAM) Conference on Justice and Sustainability in the Global Economy, Paris, France in July 2010. This reveals personal presence and style, reflects the high quality of his dissertation and indicates the support of his employer
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His vision and understanding of strong leadership characteristics necessary within his working environment
Wayne was presented with his prize at a dinner launching the MBA Alumni Network which took place at the Royal Overseas League in London on the 4 August.
His personal transformation through embracing good management
We offer our congratulations to Wayne.
Wayne White receiving his prize from Linda Hollingworth, Director of Human Resources at Estuary Housing Association, Southend on Sea, Essex
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MA Global Communication First cohort graduate The first students from the MA Global Communication dual award will graduate in October 2010. They have already received their diploma from Anglia Ruskin’s partner institution, the Mudra Institute of Communications Ahmadabad (MICA) in India. The majority of the students from the first cohort are already in exciting posts in various multinational companies. The 14 students of the second cohort are currently working on their MA dissertation after successfully completing their first semester studies in Cambridge and their second semester studies in Ahmedabad. Many of them have already received attractive job offers.
Katalin Illes with students at MICA, Ahmedabad, India
Here are the testimonies of two students from the programme:
Pavan Choudhary
Paolin Pascot “At Anglia Ruskin University learning was really an enriching experience. The MA Global Communication course was wonderfully crafted and delivered to us by eminent academics at the business school. Modules like International Leadership also incorporated industry experience and we understood how the dynamics of leadership are changing today with the boundaries coming closer.
Paolin Pascot who has recently returned to the UK from his semester in India said the following about his experience: “My experience at Mica was brilliant. First, I received an excellent formation with a perfect mix of theories and practices. The institute and its efficient teachers taught me foundations of communication and management, and also gave us professional projects where we had to apply those theories. Second, I discovered a new continent, a new country and a new culture. My experience at MICA was more than just an international exchange; it was a real enriching human experience! I would like to thank all the teachers, administrative workers, staff and obviously all the students for the amazing semester. I am going back to Europe with my head full of knowledge and my heart full of warm feelings”.
Faculty members were well coordinated, cared about the students’ individual development and delivered the right mix of business and cultural education. A lot of our modules covered the length and breadth of the subjects. It goes without saying that the students’ personal interest in the course helped a great deal. Each of the subjects demands a minimum of 9 hours of your time every week, which includes class-work and self-study.
From September 2010 students who enrol in the programme will have the choice of studying in the second semester either in India or in Hungary.
Prof. Stuart Wall who taught International Business Environment showed us the way global business operates, the factors that govern decision making process in such a dynamic business environment and issues which leaders should be aware of in the future. To me the Cambridge teaching environment accompanied with the best of library facilities was very attractive and resourceful. The MA Global Communication course was full of valuable insights. We were continuously encouraged by our professors to share our views with others. This way we also benefited from the thoughts and ideas of our classmates who came from different cultural and educational backgrounds. The debates and fruitful discussions made us realise that “no answer is necessarily right or wrong” they often simply represent different perspectives”.
For further information contact Dr Katalin Illes Director of International Partnerships E: katalin.illes@anglia.ac.uk T: 0845 196 2033
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MBA Residential/ Paris Conference Like every year, this year’s MBA students at both campuses in Cambridge and Chelmsford had the opportunity to take part in some exciting residentials which are known to be a great opportunity to present their work, communicate and exchange innovative ideas, build up networks, and give each other constructive feedback. Last but not least, our MBA students get the chance to get to know each other better outside the formal class room and develop a strong team spirit.
Bianca (4th right) with fellow MBA students and lecturers from AIBS
This year, apart from Berlin, our Chelmsford MBA students were offered a residential in Paris where the Justice and Sustainability in the Global Economy Conference was held from 8th – 10th July. Under the umbrella of ‘Global MisLeadership’, a conference track lead by John Rayment, MBA Programme Leader Chelmsford, and Dr Jonathan Smith, Senior Lecturer at AIBS, our MBA students had the opportunity to present their first conference papers to a wide audience including fellow students, professionals and academia from all over the world.
International Business School 2010 and foreman in a transport depot. Wayne has won and accepted this year’s Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Greenwood Memorial Prize for his personal transformation through embracing good management, his success on the MBA programme, and his apparent vision and understanding of strong leadership characteristics necessary within this working environment.
“There has been an insurgence of interest from both academia and business practitioners on the ability of a corporation to act ethically when in pursuit of profit. In today’s environment this insurgence has manifested itself from the global economic crisis which we have all witnessed over the past few years. The IFSAM conference focused upon justice and sustainability in the global environment which I am sure everyone found very informative. During the evening everyone took in the ambience and the whole experience was an enjoyable and memorable one. It was great to network with the MBA students and lecturers of Anglia Ruskin University and I am sure the drive and enthusiasm for this important topic will continue.”
One of the conference papers, on International labour contract, was presented by Wayne White, MBA alumni of Ashcroft
Wayne White, MBA Alumni Other MBA students presented papers included topics such as ‘The role of business schools in rebalancing the global business morality feedback loop’ by Martin Callaghan, Karen Hull and Debbie Hamilton; ‘With Apologies to Adam Smith: An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Corporations’ by Gary Wright and ‘Pakistan: Poverty and Family Planning’ by Abrar Shah. Besides the conference, there was still plenty of time for sightseeing and great food! All in all, all the students enjoyed the Paris residential and gave only positive feedback throughout. Hence, it can be said to have been a great success! Bianca Schottstedt, MBA Student E: Bianca.schottstedt@anglia.ac.uk T: 0845 196 6842
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The stunning new Hauser Forum, at the science and technology campus of the University of Cambridge.
Spring 2010 Ventures Academy
business ideas to the next stage. They will need sharply honed skills to rise to the challenges that they will face as they bring their business ideas to fruition.” Many Cambridge entrepreneurs are supporting the inventive programme including Professor Alan Barrell, a Cambridge business angel and entrepreneur in residence and Modwenna Rees-Mogg, CEO of Angel News, Gareth Roberts, CEO of PneumaCare, Miranda Weston-Smith of MWS Consulting, Jack Lang, a serial entrepreneur and business angel, and Amy Mokady, i-Teams Director.
Where ideas come to life Cambridge is spearheading an exciting new entrepreneurial initiative which aims to provide young entrepreneurs with the ultimate opportunity to learn more about start-up finance, become investment ready and connect with potential backers.
Professor Barrell said the Ventures Academy was highly significant for entrepreneurs in the UK. He predicts that the initiative will become a nationwide and then a worldwide movement and activity. The advisory board of NACUE is already a phenomenon in its own right – now with 35,000 members in less than a year.
In April and May the Hauser Forum hosted the Spring 2010 Ventures Academy for NACUE, the National Consortium of University Entrepreneurs in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University and the University of Cambridge. There were three strands to the Ventures Academy – a start-up finance masterclass; an investment readiness day and a Deal Day bringing investment ready ventures face-to-face with interested investors. Convinced of the potential of the Ventures Academy Professor Terry Mughan at the Ashcroft International Business School (AIBS) said: “During these events the venture-owners have demonstrated the tenacity and drive they need to succeed. With the help of entrepreneurs such as Dr Chris Mitchell, a graduate of Anglia Ruskin University and now CEO of Cambridge based Audio Analytic, producers of software that automatically classifies sounds by means of computer analysis, these individuals will have the motivation and commitment they need to take their
Young entrepreneurs with Professor Terry Mughan (3rd right) and Professor Alan Barrell (2nd right)
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Tiger Conservation Strategies
market, sparking a poaching crisis in which the potential extirpation of tigers in the wild has become a critical concern. Various solutions have been proposed to address this downward trajectory in tiger numbers, ranging from a regulatory, protectionist stance employed in India to a more free-market, private sector-driven policy direction preferred in China. The current research seeks to analyse the efficacy of these rival approaches and to make recommendations as to the most viable programmes available to policy makers and practitioners.
Building on existing research into tiger tourism, Simon Evans and Graham Webster recently applied for, and have been granted, a university research grant under the Deputy Vice Chancellor’s Research fund. This has enabled the study to expand its focus to issues surrounding the economic ramifications of tiger conservation strategies in two key tiger range states – India and China. Interim findings have been introduced within an open presentation to Anglia Ruskin University staff and students on Tuesday 4th May at AIBS entitled ‘Tiger Tourism and Conservation Strategies’.
Research visits have recently been undertaken in Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, Northern India and Harbin Tiger Park and Farm in Heiliongjiang Province in NorthEast China. Utilising surveys and interviews with key management in each of these venues. A series of academic papers are currently in preparation, focusing upon the conservation: tourism: economy interface that will prove crucial to the long-term success of efforts to protect and expand endangered tiger populations into the future.
Recent decades have witnessed a significant decline in tiger numbers across their range, influenced by issues relating to rapid population growth and attendant agricultural development and forest utilisation. This has led to habitat fragmentation, compounding conflicts between local inhabitants and wildlife communities. At the same time, additional anthropogenic pressures have intensified, not least in relation to the poaching of tigers to supply the lucrative traditional Chinese medicine
Simon Evans Senior Lecturer in Leisure and Tourism E: simon.evans@anglia.ac.uk T: 0845 196 6875
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Anglia Ruskin University's Lester Lloyd-Reason (fourth from left) with Virgin Money's Head of Loans and Cards, David Buxton, (next but one in line) and students pictured after the recent presentations.
Business School students advise Virgin Money
Rather than working on a potential product idea, this time the students were actually advising Virgin Money on a 'live' new product launch. The product is top secret and each student, all the lecturing staff and the entrepreneurs from the 'entrepreneur in residence' network brought in to advise the students had to sign a non-disclosure form.
Ashcroft International Business School impresses Virgin Money with boardroom skills presentation
Virgin Money was enormously impressed by the high standard of the students' presentations. David Buxton, Managing Director of Virgin Money Cards and Loans, commended them at the conclusion of the presentations by saying, 'I have sat through many presentations by businesses pitching to us in this boardroom that have been nowhere near as professional as yours. For second-year students, the standard is remarkable, and you should all be very proud of yourselves.'
Ashcroft International Business School students studying on the BA (Hons) Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Management have continued to build on their successful working relationship with Virgin Money. Last year, for their first-year module 'Enterprise in Action', the students worked on a project to help Virgin Money with their investigation of the pet insurance market. The project concluded with a presentation to the main board at the Virgin Money headquarters in Norwich.
"The fact that Virgin Money came back to us for a second time and asked our students to work on an actual new product launch represents a fantastic vote of confidence both in the pathway and in the students themselves."
Virgin Money was so impressed with the students' presentations that they asked to continue the working relationship with them. Now in their second year, the BA (Hons) Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Management students were invited to work as consultants, advising Virgin Money on a new product to be launched later this year. The project was linked into the secondyear module 'Being Enterprising', and the students again presented their ideas in the Virgin Money boardroom.
Professor Lester Lloyd-Reason, Pathway Leader for the BA (Hons) Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Management E: lester.lloyd-reason@anglia.ac.uk T: 0845 196 2479
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AIBS academics support VIth formers’ Business Challenge The challenges of globalisation On 16th June, John Rayment, Principal Lecturer (AIBS, Chelmsford), ran a two-hour session introducing the issues of globalisation to a packed room at Moulsham High School, Chelmsford. This was the first stage in a project involving their students in a business challenge – to prepare and present a report on the future role of UK PLC to university staff – the winning teams to receive boxes of Celebrations chocolates.
corporate social responsibility, ethical altruistic behaviour, self belief, confidence, friendship, honesty, trust, collaboration, and search for opportunities to grow and develop. These are the kind of attributes we admire in others.
Content ranged from group discussion to Q+A but the focus was on the need to change current approaches of both business and government if a sustainable, just and fulfilling presence for humanity on the planet is to be achieved. John outlined the concept of MisLeadership and illustrated with the Leadership Fitness See-Saw, Global Fitness Framework and ASK SIR L decision making model.
Negative spirituality would include deliberate exclusion of other approaches, philosophies and values; misconstruing other’s beliefs or demonising their followers; being exploitative, prejudiced, parochial, nepotistic, corrupt or hypocritical. These may be the kind of attributes we expect of successful business people! Some traits, like being selfish and competitive, may not be easily classified as positive or negative, or their classification may depend on circumstances and scale.
30 students were expected but well over 50 crammed into the room, with all seats taken including the window-sills. Alan Routledge, Head of Business Studies at the school stated how important it was for close ties to be developed between them and our university, particularly given our close proximity and joint concerns for global green growth. Progression from Moulsham High to Anglia Ruskin University was a natural route for students and exposure to the participative style of university learning helped challenge any concerns they may have as to ability to cope.
The event concluded on the 15th July with the students receiving a keynote lecture from Professor Stuart Wall, Professor of Business and Economics (AIBS, Cambridge) and then working in their small groups to finalise their presentations, supported by our student ambassadors. Five groups of presentations were delivered, and judged by Dr Rob Willis, and Mrs Jill Baldwin, and they were all of a pleasing high standard, making it very difficult to separate them out for prizes! In the end one overall prize winner was presented, whilst the other 4 presentations each received a prize for a specific element of strength in their presentation. Overall the standard of research, teamwork, quality of content, design and delivery of presentation were very strong. Many students commented on how they had enjoyed the day, and the teachers concluded the day with a request for a similar event next year!
Students appreciated the dichotomies of global business such as excess competition, exploitation of resources and people, and growth v sustainability. Concepts such as physical and mental fitness were readily accepted but spiritual fitness caused more debate, partly due to the initial misconception that it was similar to religion. John explained his approach had an extremely broad definition of spirituality as covering such aspects of humanity as care and concern for others, an organisation's role, mission and ethics, a group's values, morals, team morale and spirit, and an individual's personal drive, determination and charisma. Achieving a sustainable, just and fulfilling human presence would require positive, rather than negative spirituality.
Christopher Nicholls, Head of Moulsham High School said: after the event:
“I understand the day to have been a big success – I am very grateful to the individuals concerned and to Anglia Ruskin University for allowing this to take place.”
Positive spirituality implies overall objectives, philosophies and values focusing on ‘we’, not ‘I’. Such an approach leads to fair treatment of others, searching for common ground and enlightenment, open discussion of beliefs and philosophies, success measured in terms of happiness and fulfilment,
Christopher Nicholls Head, Moulsham High School
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AIBS develops a BA (Hons) Sales degree with Harrods sales force and by creating a degree tailored to the needs of the luxury retail environment, we are proud to be setting new standards in our sector.
The course, developed with academics at Anglia Ruskin University, will teach students "the art of selling", with modules on human behaviour, psychology and business enterprise. Staff who are employed in sales roles at the department store and have at least two years of relevant work experience are being encouraged to apply for the degree, which they can study for alongside their work.
"This will be the qualification for retail employees wishing to bolster their sales professionalism whilst investing for their long-term career planning.” The executive students and line managers arrived at Rivermead campus on 24 May for their corporate student induction day, prior to embarking on the new work-based BA Sales degree course.
AIBS has designed a new work-based undergraduate pathway in Sales for Harrods which is the first of its kind in the UK. The degree will teach students "the art of selling", with modules on sales skills, sales psychology and business enterprise. Sales staff within the department store who have at least two years of relevant work experience started the degree in May 2010.
Jan Skene, Deputy Head of Higher Skills@Work, said, “The Harrods induction day proved a fantastic opportunity for the new student cohort and their line managers to be introduced to our University and to gain a clear understanding of what it will be like to study at undergraduate level with Anglia Ruskin.”
Jon Salkeld, Director of Corprate & UK Education, said: “The new sales degree is an exciting and innovative new programme which we believe will make a significant contribution to Harrods and to the wider Sales sector”.
For further inform contact John Salkeld, Postgraduate Programmes Leader.
Arkin Salih, Harrods learning and development manager, said: “As a business, we are wholly committed to investing in our
E: John.Salkeld@anglia.ac.uk T: 0845 196 6855
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Sandra Hollis, Robert Jones, Geoffrey Dovey, John Rayment
MBA Alumni Network Inaugural Dinner
The highlight of the evening was our guest speaker, alumnus Geoffrey Dovey, Chief Executive of DPP Ltd (Dovey Premium Products) and a campaigner for ethically sound products and services. Geoff graduated from Anglia Ruskin University’s predecessor Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology (CCAT) with a BA in Economics and History in 1980 and we were delighted that he had agreed to travel up from Dorset to be with us for the evening. Geoff gave a vibrant presentation about the complexities of running and transforming a family enterprise and his beliefs on how businesses should be run, sharing his presentation with Robert Jones (Field Leader, International Business, AIBS). The theme was ‘Thinking Inside the Box’, and was both amusing and thought provoking. Geoff and Robert’s notes from the presentation can be accessed via the MBA section of the Alumni web page.
On 4th August we were delighted that over 50 MBA graduates were able to join members of the Development & Alumni team and staff from Ashcroft International Business School for the launch of our MBA Alumni Network. The inaugural dinner was held at The Royal Over-Seas League in London and we were moved that many alumni had travelled long distances to be with us, and not only from within the UK. Alumni also attended from ten countries worldwide, including Belgium, Germany, Spain, Iran, Mexico, India and Brazil.
We were also delighted that the CMI Greenwood Memorial Prize was officially awarded during the evening to Wayne White, whose dissertation was judged to have the best chance of driving forward innovative education in the area of leadership and management – there is a write-up for this later in the magazine.
The evening started with Pimms, though sadly not on the lawns due to the first rainy day for weeks. A buffet dinner followed, with plenty of time to network, catch up with old friends and make new ones. One of the first guests to arrive thought he would not know anyone there, but was then delighted to meet Udayan Raut-Roy (Principal Lecturer, AIBS), whom he had not seen for some years.
This was a very successful evening with a good mix of information, entertainment and time to network. Many alumni had not seen each other – or their lecturers – for quite a few years, so there was much reminiscing alongside enthusiastic discussion on how their MBA studies had helped in their jobs. We have had many emails in from alumni saying how much they enjoyed the evening… and when will the next one be!
Sandra Hollis (Pro Vice-Chancellor, International & Development Services) welcomed everyone and highlighted a few of Anglia Ruskin’s many successes and our campus developments. As some attendees had studied back in the early 1990s it was interesting for them to be brought up-todate with the changes. John Rayment (Principal Lecturer, AIBS) then spoke about developments within the Business School.
Sue Jacobs Head of Alumni Relations
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MBA CONNECT
Alumni co-authors book ‘Racing Towards Excellence’ The life of young people around the world has become more complicated in the past two decades. The pressure is on: expectations are increasing and the race for children to outperform and succeed in life starts earlier than ever before. Increased access to education and career opportunities has been one of the greatest benefits of the wealth creation that has occurred across the world in the last two decades. It also means, however, that young people today are growing up in an environment that is much more highly pressured than the one in which their parents or grandparents grew up.
MBACONNECT
Unfortunately, the teaching of life skills required to succeed in this new competitive landscape has, in general, not kept up with these developments. Our schools and universities focus primarily on academic disciplines and rigorous scientific analysis. Consequently, the students have to take responsibility to prepare for the other challenges of life and work themselves – a difficult task at that age. The outcome is inevitable. High expectations, both of the individuals and those around them, collide with a lack of relevant preparation and this can result in unhappiness.
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 2010 and the deadline for copy is the 20 October 2010 (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.
With this situation in mind AIBS’ graduate, Dev Singh, BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance, has co-authored a book with Jan Sramek, an LSE graduate, which explains how and when outperformance happens, how it creates a virtuous cycle with happiness and how to achieve both in practice. The book is available through Amazon (£11.73) with a dedicated website at www.racingtowardsexcellence.com. Testimonials:
“Racing Towards Excellence makes essential reading for anyone stepping out into the big wide worlds. My only lament is that this advice was not available many moons ago when I left university!” Chris Howland, CEO, Mount Row Capital Previously Managing Director, Morgan Stanley
“This book should be mandatory reading for all students and graduates pre, during and post university.” Hermione Way, entrepreneur and journalist, named as one of Spectator Business’s Stars of Tomorrow
E: christine.durrant@anglia.ac.uk
“I wish I had read this book when I was 17, and again at 19 and again at 24! Congratulations on an outstanding book. Buy it for any young person whose future you care about.”
Websites: www.anglia.ac.uk/alumni www.anglia.ac.uk/aibs
Peter Harrison, CEO HarrisonCareers.com Previously Executive Director, Goldman Sachs
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Corporate Marketing 4729/8.10/DT
Editor: Christine Durrant (Communications, Marketing and External Relations, AIBS)