Breakout 1 A. Creating high-performing teams - the developing role of Professional Services staff in nurturing a positive culture in business schools

This session will address the role of Professional Service staff in nurturing a positive team culture to help develop high-performing teams. This will include attracting, recruiting, and retaining suitable talent, as well as addressing communication and assertiveness skills.

Facilitator/presenters to be announced

Breakout 1 B. Improving the customer experience for students - helping Professional Service staff to have a positive impact.

This workshop will focus on some of the key skills needed for customer facing roles in Professional Services, including: Attentiveness; Effective listening skills; Time management; Patience techniques. It will include using body language, questioning skills to identify customer needs and expectations, as well as building empathy and rapport. This broad topic will be honed down to provide easily digestible take-aways.

Presenters to be announced

Breakout 1 C. How Professional Services staff can play an active role in helping business schools to embrace diversity and inclusion

This session will consider how embedding the principles of diversity and inclusion enhances the work environment and encourages more productive teams. It will look at initiatives such as Athena Swan, in terms of gender equality, and how the aims can be implemented beyond "ticking the boxes" necessary for accreditation. Improving EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) is a professed goal for many business schools and businesses, this session will provide practical advice on achieving those goals.

Amy Cowling, Head of Faculty Operations, University of Hull

Dr. Kendi Guantai
University Co-Dean for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, University of Leeds Business School

Breakout 2 A. Team dynamics -Find your voice and manage up effectively! The importance of staff getting involved in the management process

This session will consider how Professional Services staff need to be able to raise issues with managers before they become problems, being helpful not critical. The skills covered here will be applicable in a range of situations, and may include communication skills such assertiveness training and negotiation techniques. The focus will be on teams working effectively together, in an atmosphere of shared and valued knowledge and opinions.

Ruth Dover, Managing Director, RNR Training & Coaching

Additional presenters to be announced

Breakout 2 B. Preparing staff for changing student needs in relation to wellbeing  

This session will raise awareness of the issues that impact student wellbeing and will address some of the skills needed by Professional Services staff, as the first point of contact for students raising wellbeing concerns. This can include listening skills, empathy training , aspects of basic bereavement counselling and similar skills applicable to this situation. Many business schools have Student Welfare offices, with staff professionally trained to deal with wellbeing issues, but it is often Professional Service staff that are approached by students first -preparing staff to deal effectively and appropriately with that initial conversation will be the focus of this session.

Presenters to be announced

Breakout 2 C. Improving delivery through TOM -Target Operating Model

"If you have the collective will and appetite, then a well-designed, evidence-based and fully executed TOM could improve your delivery to a greater level than you ever thought possible. But genuine TOM design and implementation is not a quick fix, nor is it a journey for the faint-hearted" (David Becker, SUMS)
Many business schools are looking into TOM -this session will give some background to the potential benefits and possible challenges for Professional Services staff tasked with implementing TOM.

Presenters to be announced

Breakout 3 A. The complexities of bringing students back onto campus and how that impacts Professional Services staff

This session will start from the maxim: "Campus should be a magnet, not a mandate” and assess some of the initiatives taken by business schools to encourage students to enjoy and embrace a return to campus. It will look at what Professional Service staff can do to smooth the path towards and encourage a full and rewarding on-campus experience.

David Meech Mazumdar, Department Manager (Strategic Planning & Development) London School of Economics and Political Science; Chair, Chartered ABS Professional Managers Committee

Additional presenters to be announced

Breakout 3 B. Project management skills for Professional Services staff

This workshop will look at project management skills, including: interpersonal skills, inspiring and motivating teams, time management/ workload organisation; problem solving. It will address the basic project management aims of planning, running and controlling a project, on-time and budget but will focus on the skills that can most usefully be implemented by Professional Services staff in business schools.

Presenters to be announced

Breakout 3 C. Communicating effectively and inclusively with International Students

An internationally diverse working environment can be enriching but it can also bring its own challenges.

Aimed at staff working with international students, this 1-hour workshop explores the barriers to successful communication with internationally diverse students and offers practical tips that can be used straight away.

Some of the areas covered include:

• language that is difficult for those who speak English as an additional language
• ambiguous language and implied meaning
• intercultural competence training with regards to politeness, humour, small talk etc.
• clearer written communication (emails)

This workshop has been developed by Acrobat Global specifically for Professional Services staff.

Kathryn Alevizos, Co-founder, Acrobat Global

Zanne Gaynor, Co-founder, Acrobat Global

Breakout 3 D. An introduction to Carbon Literacy Training

This interactive session introduces the award winning Carbon Literacy Training for Educators, Communities, Organizations and Students (CLT-ECOS) developed by Nottingham Trent University’s Green Academy in collaboration with the United Nations PRME Climate and Environment Working Group. The session includes a taster of the training to demonstrate how it works, and an opportunity for participants to learn about their own carbon impacts as well as time and space for questions.

Alex Hope, Head of Department, Leadership and Human Resource Management, Newcastle Business School

Sarah Verbickas, Faculty Operations Manager, Leeds University Business School (LUBS)

Additional breakout sessions may be added to this or other timeslots.

Watch this space!

Group Booking Discounts: Bring colleagues and save 25% on each ticket

Members

Not sure whether your institution is a member? Full list available here.

• One participant - £95
• Two participants - £143
• Three participants - £214
• Four participants - £285
• Five participants - £356
• Six to Fifteen Participants - £428 - Register up to 15 participants for the price of six!

If you are registering more than fifteen participants please contact enquiries@charteredabs.org for a Special Booking Code.

Non-members

• One participant - £120
• Two participants - £180
• Three participants - £270
• Four participants - £360

Non-member organisations are allowed a maximum of four tickets. If you wish to register more people please contact Afsana Shahajahan to discuss group sales and sponsorship opportunities afsana.shahajahan@charteredabs.org

What platform will be used for PMAC Online?

The PMAC Online conference takes place via Zoom. Registered participants will receive the login details a few weeks before the event.

What if I register and then want to cancel?

If you register and decide that you cannot attend you can transfer your pass to a colleague free of charge. If you decide to cancel there may be a cancellation fee. Please refer to our Terms & Conditions for full details.

Transfers, Cancellations and full Terms & Conditions - click here