Top executives complete inaugural UK Bridge Programme

The Chartered Association of Business Schools (Chartered ABS) and AACSB International (AACSB) are delighted to announce that the first participants have successfully completed the inaugural UK Bridge Programme held in London and hosted by the Cass Business School, City University of London. Established by AACSB nine years ago, the programme was designed to equip business executives with the skills and training to teach in leading business schools throughout the world.

The Class of 2015 included a large range of top executives from across the world including:

• Dr Tom Gosling - Partner, PwC, UK
• Tracy Grooms - Undergraduate Director, McColl School of Business, USA
• Dr Rodney Irwin - Managing Director, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Switzerland
• Chris Lynch - USA
• Mark Rix - Chief Executive, Catchpole Communications, United Arab Emirates
• Wayne Robinson - Tax Partner, PwC, USA
• Phil Ryan - Executive Education Director, Royal Docks Business School, University of East London, UK
• Joe Valasquez - Managing Consultant, McGladrey, USA
• Dr Florin Vladica - Senior University Tutor and Sales Programmes Manager, Portsmouth Business School, UK
• Cathryn Warner - UK
• Simon Wilde - PhD researcher and Teaching Fellow, University of Bath, Senior Managing Director, Macquarie Capital, UK
• Rod Whitson - Executive Vice President, Bankers Bancorp and the Bankers Bank, USA

Participants heard from a host of speakers such as Bridge Programme Academic Coordinator Prof. Clive Holtham (Cass Business School, City University of London), Prof. Ciaran Murphy (Dean, Cork University Business School), Dr Dilly McDermott (Education Consultant) and Prof. Julie Hall (Deputy Provost - Academic Development, Roehampton University).

Speakers provided insights into the business school landscape and the demand for professional staff as educators. Sessions in turn covered a breadth of topics including operations within a business school, teaching styles, technology, and the career paths into academia and how to plan and deliver modules in classrooms. These sessions included several practical components such as simulation exercises which familiarised participants with the real world challenges in teaching. In several instances, participants took part in group activities, surgery sessions, case studies and presented their ideas to peers and seasoned professionals.

Speaking on their experiences, participants said:

“I am looking for a ‘bridge’ from my current business career to the academic world and this programme was a perfect fit. Having someone like Clive being so dedicated to the programme was critical.”

“It was practical not theoretical. Although I thought I might want the theoretical it was better to walk away with some ideas that could be used in a setting.”

“The course was really outstanding – just what I was looking for in part of the plan to move into education.”

Participants are available for teaching roles and will be listed on the AACSB International’s graduate database.

We’d like to thank Prof. Clive Holtham for facilitating the programme and the following speakers:

Prof. Cliff Oswick, Dr Julie Davies, Dr Dilly McDermott, Dr Pam Parker, Stefano De Cesaris, Angela Dove, Prof . Margaret Price, Dr Simon Parker, Alison Sands, Prof. Julie Hall, Dr Tim Mescon, Prof. Ciaran Murphy and Debbie Pearson.

To express your interest in the 2016 UK Bridge Programme, please email Barney Roe here.