Queen's University Management School

As the new academic term gets underway, Northern Bank has announced a new scholarship programme that will help 20 final year students in Northern Ireland to better plan their career path.

The Freedom Experience Scholarship programme, which launches on Friday 30th September aims to equip Northern Ireland’s future business leaders with the necessary skills to enter the world of work.

The innovative Freedom Experience Scholarship programme will offer 20 Northern Ireland students the unique opportunity to attend a dedicated three-day skills academy, which will help them make a smoother and more confident transition from third level education into the job market.
   

The exciting three-day Freedom Experience Academy will be guided by key successful business leaders from across Northern Ireland. Providing scholars with straightforward skills to adequately arm them for the world of work – from social skills and suggestions on how to enhance their C.V. to valuable insights into successful interview techniques and an evaluation of their own strengths and weaknesses. 

An investment in excess of £20,000, the new Freedom Experience Scholarships initiative will also offer non-repayable grants of £1000 to each of the 20 winning undergraduates- a clear sign of Northern Bank’s commitment to lessening the financial burden on students across Northern Ireland.

Applications are being sought from final year third level students enrolled in one of eight disciplines: Agriculture, Economics, Finance, Business, Health, Sports and the Arts at University of Ulster, Queen’s University, Belfast and CAFRE. * A separate ‘Wild Card’ category will invite applications from final year undergraduate students studying any degree course at any educational establishment in Northern Ireland. 

Winners will be chosen in association with Northern Bank staff and relevant academics through an essay competition. The grants will be paid directly into a Northern Bank Freedom account in two equal instalments; November 2011 and February 2012.

Commenting on the launch of Northern Bank’s new Freedom Experience Scholarships, Vanessa Postle, Community Affairs Manager, Northern Bank said:

“Against a backdrop of increasing graduate unemployment, Northern Bank is launching a fantastic new opportunity which will provide final year students, the leaders of tomorrow with real, tangible skills that will be easily transferable upon graduation, greatly improving their employment prospects.

“Working with University of Ulster, Queen’s University, Belfast and CAFRE, we identified a skills gap between leaving university and entering the workplace. Each Freedom Experience Scholarship recipient should be more prepared to enter the job market and contribute to the economy, after winning the chance to network and learn from local successful business leaders.”
   

In addition to enrolment in the Freedom Experience Academy, both Arts Scholarships offered under the initiative will be delivered in partnership with The Lyric Theatre including money can’t buy internships.

Commenting on the launch of the new initiative, Richard Croxford, Artistic Director at the Lyric said:

“We are very excited about being part of the Northern Bank Freedom Scholarships.  There are so many opportunities for the scope of the Freedom Experience internships at the Lyric. Some candidates will have an interest in working on our plays and will want to get a feel for what goes on behind-the-scenes. For others, there will be the chance to work in the theatre’s busy marketing and sponsorship team, or in finance and administration, or perhaps as part of the Lyric’s Creative Learning programme.  The Northern Bank Freedom Experience Arts Scholarships provide the perfect first step for anyone seriously thinking of a career in professional theatre.”

Both Arts Scholarships offered under the Freedom Experience Scholarship programme are supported by Arts & Business. Brona Whittaker, Arts Manager, Arts & Business said:
 
“Arts & Business Northern Ireland is delighted to have supported the relationship between the Northern Bank and the Lyric Theatre through the Arts & Business Investment Programme.  The investment programme exists to encourage and inspire sustainable relationships and to maximise the benefits of business and the arts working together.  It is especially exciting that through this project we will help two students to begin their career in the arts in Northern Ireland’s only producing theatre.

To apply visit northernbank.co.uk/freedom from Friday 30 September. Applicants must submit their 1000 word essay entry and a completed copy of the official entry form by email no later than 5pm on 28 October 2011. Entry is by email only.

ENDS

For further information contact Sinead Doyle, MCE Public Relations on 028 9026 7099 or Sinead@mcepublicrelations.com

The innovative Freedom Experience Scholarship programme will offer 20 Northern Ireland students the unique opportunity to attend a dedicated three-day skills academy, which will help them make a smoother and more confident transition from third level education into the job market.

An investment in excess of £20,000, the initiative will also offer non-repayable grants of £1000 to each of the 20 winning undergraduates.

Applications are being sought from final year third level students enrolled in one of eight disciplines: Agriculture, Economics, Finance, Business, Health, Sports, Community Development and the Arts at University of Ulster, Queen’s University, Belfast and CAFRE. A separate ‘Wild Card’ category will invite applications from final year undergraduate students studying any degree course at any educational establishment in Northern Ireland.

To apply visit northernbank.co.uk/freedom from Friday 30 September. Applicants must submit their 1000 word essay entry and a completed copy of the official entry form by email no later than 5pm on 28 October 2011. Entry is by email only.

Notes to editor:

* Final Year Students studying in Northern Ireland at University of Ulster, Queen’s University, Belfast and CAFRE enrolled on any degree course incorporating the following subjects as Single, Major, Joint and Minor Honours will be eligible to apply for the Freedom Experience Scholarships:

• Business/ Business Studies/Business Management
• Community Development
• Economics
• Finance
• Health Promotion
• Sports
• Agriculture - ( BSc Equine Management ) at CAFRE Enniskillen Campus;
• Agriculture - ( BSc Food Technology ) at CAFRE Loughry Campus;
• Agriculture - ( BSc Food Management & Marketing ) at CAFRE Loughry Campus; 
• Agriculture - ( BSc Agricultural Technology ) at CAFRE Greenmount Campus / QUB;
• The Arts – BA Single, Major, Joint and Minor Honours in: Drama Studies at Queen’s with a 6 month internship following graduation based at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast.
• The Arts – BA Hons Drama, BA Hons Drama with Dance, BA Hons Drama with Music at the University of Ulster with a 6 month internship following graduation based at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast. Both Arts Scholarships offered under the Freedom Experience Scholarship programme will be delivered in partnership with The Lyric Theatre. These scholarships, supported by Arts & Business, are part of Northern Bank’s partnership with the Lyric Theatre, which includes a five-year sponsorship of the Northern Bank Stage.
• In addition to the courses above, a separate ‘Wild Card’ category will offer two further Freedom Experience Scholarships and Academy places. All final year undergraduate students studying any course at any educational establishment in Northern Ireland can enter their essay in relation to the Title listed on northernbank.co.uk/freedom

Freedom Scholarship Details    

Top of Page

Increased co-operation across public sector functions is vital if quality service delivery in Northern Ireland is to be maintained in the current economic climate. That’s according to international public sector expert Professor Matthias Beck, who has recently joined the staff of Queen’s University Management School.

Dr Beck, previously Director of Research at the York Management School, has been appointed Professor of Public Sector Management at the University. His main research interests are in public sector finance, infrastructure procurement and public sector risk management.

Among his first tasks will be forging relationships with civil servants, elected representatives and business leaders to ascertain how best service quality can be maintained with lower resources.
He said: "Public sector management is an issue of significant economic importance in Northern Ireland, particularly in an era of cutbacks when politicians are looking for 'more for less'.

"I firmly believe that an increased level of co-operation across functions is essential – we must dispense with any form of 'silo mentality'."
Professor Beck, who said he was attracted to Queen’s by its "outstanding academic reputation", added: "I am delighted to be joining the Management School at such an exciting time, with the imminent opening of the University's new £15 million executive and postgraduate education centre at Riddel Hall."

Professor Beck was educated in Germany and the United States, receiving his doctorate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1996. He has held lecturing posts at the University of Glasgow and the University of St Andrews, and was Professor of Risk Management at Glasgow Caledonian University from 1999 to 2005.

Professor Beck has recently completed a study on 'The role and effectiveness of public-private partnerships in the development of enhanced primary care premises and services' which was funded by the National Institute for Health Research Service Delivery and Organisation (NIHR SDO) programme. He is now serving as a Lead Reviewer for this programme.

Media inquiries to: Anne Langford on 028 9097 5310, mob. 07815 871997, a.langford@qub.ac.uk

Top of Page

For further information regarding the part-time BA degree please click on the link Book of Modules 2011-12

Top of Page

Welcome to Queen’s University Management School (QUMS) we are very much looking forward to meeting you this week.

Specific information in relation to induction and QUMS Welcome Week activities (which will run during week beginning 19^th September) have been emailed to your QUB account.  You will also be able to enrol for your modules/courses and to choose a specific tutorial time for each.

 

Lectures will begin week commencing 26^th September.

 

In the meantime, if you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

Shirley-Ann Hazlett

Director of Education

Top of Page

David Gibson, who earlier this year was named the ‘number one’ enterprise educator in the world,  has been nominated for the Times Higher Education Awards 2011 Most Innovative Teacher of the Year. 

 

The Times Higher Innovative Teacher of the year award is open to all lecturers in the UK and each year receives hundreds of entries.  This is the first time that someone in enterprise education has been shortlisted for this prize.

 

Mr Gibson said that  he was “delighted to be shortlisted for this prestigious award. To be named as one of the top six innovative educators in the UK is  a significant honour for me and the School. It is exciting to have my work recognised at the highest level.”

 

In 2003 David Gibson introduced a new curriculum-based Certificate in Entrepreneurship Studies at Queen’s University Belfast. The aims were to embed entrepreneurship skills into the curriculum of all non-business students throughout the University, and for students to develop “enterprise for life” skills.

 

From the outset Mr Gibson’s innovative approach ensured student engagement and long term impact. He introduced a variety of strategies ranging from gaming, multi-media and community intervention to encourage discipline-specific learning experiences across 67 academic areas. He also used music and creative writing with students of all disciplines to stimulate creativity.

 

His unique teaching model, called “venture-based learning”, allowed students to develop real-life business and social enterprises, and to reflect and learn from their success or failure. For instance, History students were assessed on their ability to develop sustainable social enterprises for heritage sites throughout Ireland; nurses developed products and services to solve existing health service challenges. The use of drama, podcasts and social media aroused the students’ curiosity, provoked action and led to deep learning outcomes.

 

Over 30,000 students have now completed the Certificate.  Enterprise education is now embedded in 116 pathways across all academic disciplines, reaching 11,000 students across the University, and has led to over 1,100 students directly engaging in business activity. The model continues to evolve in response to feedback from students and staff.

 

Mr Gibson’s enterprise teaching model has received internal and external recognition for its quality and impact.

 

In 2010-11, it was adopted by the European Training Foundation to enhance the employability of graduates across the EU by providing them with enterprise, business and entrepreneurial skills.   In the same year Mr Gibson became the first person in Europe to be named the world’s ‘number one’ enterprise educator by the United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship.  Over 200 universities throughout the world are now using his pedagogical approach.

Mr Gibson’s new book  “You are an Entrepreneur”, which is to be published this month, challenges people of all ages to make things happen no matter what their age or circumstances.

 

Top of Page

Colin O’Hare, BSc Actuarial Science and Risk Management Programme Director, has been shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Awards 2011 Most Innovative Teacher of the Year.  The winner of this national award will be announced in London on 24 November. 

 

A former practising actuary, Colin O’Hare moved into academia four years ago. Since then he has consistently brought his practical experience and enthusiasm for actuarial science to his teaching. He has successfully designed and implemented innovative techniques to make the subject matter relevant and exciting, to engage the students in meaningful learning and to bridge the gap between academia and employment. Colin’s blending of theory and practice enables the students to develop actuarial skills grounded in practical application and ensures that they can compete at the highest level in the highly competitive actuarial market.

 

Due to Colin’s innovative approach Colin was awarded the 2010 Queen’s University Teaching Award by employing more non-traditional methods to engage students. This innovative approach to teaching was employed by Colin to support the learning of students on the BSc Actuarial Science and Risk Management programme offered by Queen’s University Management School.  Tools developed include a range of electronic resources from the use of podcasts, to iPod video tutorials  to the development of a suite of online problem based videos and exercises.  These developments will also assist the programme’s placement students working at a distance from the university and could in the long term be used as a platform to develop a distance learning actuarial degree.

 

A testimony to Colin’s efforts comes from Allstate NI  who said:

 

”Allstate NI has been working with Colin and with Queen’s University Management School regarding the Actuarial degree programme for over three years. In that time we have been extremely pleased with the course content and delivery, its focus on industry and the innovative methods being used. Through our internship and placement programme we have been able to benchmark the output from QUB against the best of what’s available in the US and the results have been very impressive. If you combine that quality with the flexibility and willingness to collaborate and engage, the overall partnership has proved to be mutually very profitable. A true win-win.”
Bro McFerran, Managing Director of Allstate Northern Ireland, former president of the Chamber of Commerce NI

Top of Page

QUMS's Leadership institute and China Management Research Institute jointly hosted an important visit from Fudan University, and organised a forum on Global Supply Chain Management.   The third second largest chemical company, DOW Chemical, and the third largest aerospace company, Bombardier, were invited to join the forum, which was held on Tuesday 16 August 2011.

 

The Director of the Leadership Institute, Professor Richard Harrison, opened this event.  Professor Harrison introduced the participating members and highlighted the significance of organising this forum, in that it is important to establish a system for industry and academics to discuss practical research, and particularly for the leading academics to collaborate with leading industry experts.  Professor Yifan Xu, the Director of Shanghai Supply Chain Research Institute and Head of the Management Science Department in Fudan University, delivered a keynote speech on the research and practice in Fudan University and Chinam and introduced large scale projects, such as a project with the Chinese Agriculture Department and IBM.

 

Philippe Joffroy,  the Associate Director of DOW's Belfast Supply Chain Design Centre, gave an introduction of DOW's global supply chain.  Noel Quinn,  the Chief Buyer of Bombardier, introduced the company’s supply chain strategies. All the participating members discussed industry-academic collaboration opportunities.

 

Dr Yu Xiong, Director of China Management Research Institute, and Chair of the event said “Fudan University is the top three universities in China. It's very important for QUMS to work with such high level universities in China, and strengthen the research links.”

Top of Page

Queen's University Management School has commenced moving to Riddel Hall from Friday 29 July. Please expect some disruption to business over the next week. During the interim period the contact details are as follows:

Telephone: 028 9097 4200
Fax: 028 9097 4201

qums@qub.ac.uk
www.qub.ac.uk/mgt  

The address is:

Queen’s University Management School
Riddel Hall
185 Stranmillis Road
Belfast
BT9 5EE

Top of Page