AMBA & BGA Business School Professionals Conference 2024
The AMBA & BGA Business School Professionals Conference took place from Thursday 20 to Friday 21 June 2024 in the cultural city of Prague, Czechia.
Over two days, business school professionals came together to take advantage of extensive professional development and networking opportunities.
- 20–21 June 2024
- Prague, Czechia
The conference addressed the pivotal challenges confronting programme management professionals in higher education amidst the digital revolution. Attendees learned how business schools could lead digital transformation efforts, integrate experiential learning opportunities, and remain competitive in an ever-evolving landscape.
Participants delved into the strategic integration of AI in programme management, uncovering its potential to revolutionise curriculum design, student engagement, and sustainability goals while navigating ethical considerations. They gained invaluable insights into future-proofing business education through innovative lifelong learning development strategies, industry partnerships, and student engagement initiatives.
The conference was primarily aimed at programme management and design professionals and business education technology specialists.
It was designed for anyone responsible for programme management and design at a business school, as well as those interested in the technology behind it. The event also attracted individuals seeking updates on the latest technological advances in the sector.
A sample of relevant job titles included (but was not limited to):
- Chief Technology Officer
- Head of IT
- Head of Innovation
- Operations & IT Specialist
- Information Systems Manager
- Programme Director
- Programme Manager
- Digital Programme Manager
- Library Manager
- Head of Technology
- Technology Manager
- Head of Programme
- Head of Digital Innovation
- Digital Project Manager
Learning outcomes
For programme management professionals:
- Developed lifelong learning ecosystems leveraging technology, emphasising stackability and personalisation in a digital context
- Learned how to utilise data effectively to discern labour market trends, facilitating the creation of programmes that address skills gaps
- Cultivated programmes that nurtured graduates into business-savvy, creative, and adept professionals from the outset
- Integrated UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into programmes to garner stakeholder buy-in effectively
- Prepared students for managerial roles in a world demanding resilience, awareness, and empathy
For technology professionals:
- Explored current technological innovations within business schools, including AI-powered platforms, gamified learning, and interactive tutoring
- Analysed the future impact of AI through innovation life cycles in management education
- Employed various technologies in the classroom to foster the development of successful entrepreneurs
- Future-proofed business schools by leveraging cutting-edge technology
Networking opportunities
There were plenty of opportunities to discuss the conference learnings with fellow attendees. The online conference system used AI to matchmake delegates with like-minded professionals, facilitating meetings with attendees sharing similar objectives and goals. The AMBA & BGA teams were also on hand to make any introductions requested.
- –Registration and networking
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Welcome and introduction
- Andrew Main Wilson (CEO, AMBA & BGA)
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Keynote 1: Setting the scene – challenges and opportunities in global business education
Join us for an panel discussion featuring delegates from leading global business schools. This session will set the tone for the conference by exploring the current challenges and expectations in business education. Our panelists will share their insights on issues such as digital transformation, curriculum development, student engagement, and industry collaboration. This dialogue aims to highlight key themes and provide a roadmap for the sessions to come, ensuring that the conference addresses the most pressing needs of the business education community.
- María Ávila (Rankings & International Accreditation Manager)
- Dilbar Gimranova (Dean, School of Economics and Management, Narxoz University)
- Richard Edgar Hodgett (MBA Director, Leeds University Business School)
- Adrian Mitescu (Director, Institutional Accountability, University Canada West)
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Breakout 1: Digital Transformation: Integrating business simulators and AI into learning experiences
In this session, we will explore how competency assessment processes are enhanced through the technological solutions provided by CompanyGame. We'll delve into the integration of gamification and artificial intelligence, highlighting CompanyGame's role as developers of business simulators, which serve as the cornerstone of this competency evaluation process.
- Nuno Arroteia (Assistant Professor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Scientific Board Member at Company Games & Business Simulation Academic Journal)
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Breakout 2: Programme Management: Leading the charge – universities as catalysts for digital transformation in continuous education
In this session, we will explore the instrumental role universities can play in spearheading the digital transformation of continuous education. As the landscape of professional development undergoes rapid evolution and new players enter the education market, higher education institutions stand at the forefront of pioneering innovative learning models and digital platforms. This discussion will delve into the strategies universities can adopt to embrace and lead in the digital era, from integrating cutting-edge technologies to fostering adaptable, lifelong learning ecosystems. Attendees will gain insights into best practices for enhancing digital curriculum through stackability, building personalized learning experiences, and strengthening university’s competitive advantage in an evolving market.
- Laura Sivula (Business Area Director, Lifewide Learning, Aalto University)
Meet the speakers
Adrian Johnson
Co-Founder Qinect, Qinect SAS, Adjunct Professor, INSEAD
Adrian Mitescu
Director, Institutional Accountability, University Canada West
Andrew Taylor
VP Sales EMEA & APAC, Ready Education
Andrew Main Wilson
CEO, AMBA & BGA
Anna Plechata Krausova
Chancellor, NEWTON University
Anna Bohonek
Independent Consultant, Lecturer, Non Executive Board Member, ELAI, Meditorial
Christine Baldy-Ngayo
Associate Dean for Executive Education, Emlyon Business School
Daniel Tůma
Founder and Product Development Manager, Made in Czechoslovakia Business School
Daniel Hinkley
Head of Customer Success (Director and Co-Founder), CampusConnect
Daria Hvizdalova
Director, AI Skills & Learning at 42London (UK), Head of AI EduLab at Sfera (CZ)
Declan Sweeney
CEO, (Director and Co-Founder), CampusConnect
Dr. David Lefevre
Professor of Practice – Digital Innovation, Imperial College Business School
Elena Magrini
Head of Global Research - Education & Government, Lightcast
Ellen Buchan
Insight, Content & PR Manager
Geeta Chandolia
Director of Partnerships & Marketing, LearningMate
Professor. Dr. Kunal Saigal
Deputy Vice-Rector International, IU International University of Applied Sciences
Laura Sivula
Business Area Director, Lifewide Learning, Aalto University
Leonora Clement
Head of Marketing and Communications
María Ávila
Rankings & International Accreditation Manager
EAE Business School Barcelona
Nathalie Madsen
Sales Account Executive, Ready Education
Nuno Arroteia
Assistant Professor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Scientific Board Member at Company Games & Business Simulation Academic Journal
Professor Dr. Peter Konhäusner
Vice President (Partnerships & Collaborations), Professor of Digital Entrepreneurship, Gisma University of Applied Sciences
Richard Edgar Hodgett
MBA Director, Leeds University Business School
Ronan Gruenbaum
Dean of International Affairs & Program Development, Hult International Business School
Rosie Loyd
Founders Associate, Tutello
Victor Hedenberg
Membership Director
Grandior Hotel Prague
Our conference venue, the Grandior Hotel Prague, is ideally situated in Prague’s city centre. Attendees will enjoy its proximity to the major attractions of the historic Prague Old Town and public transport links. AMBA & BGA has negotiated preferential room rates for delegates looking to stay at the Grandior Hotel Prague.
In addition, we have also arranged preferential room rates at our venue’s sister hotel, the Grand Majestic Hotel, which is a 5-minute walk away from the Grandior Hotel Prague. (For the Grand Majestic Hotel, single occupancy rooms are 175 Euros per night including breakfast.
Our prefential room rate for the Grandior Hotel Prague has now ended. Please contact our booking agent Anita Galea for further assistance.