People and Places: January 18, 2021

Transitions

Mark Fuller, the former dean of the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, is the interim chancellor of the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth. Fuller, who was dean at the Isenberg School for nine years, most recently served as vice chancellor for advancement at UMass Amherst. He previously held teaching positions at Washington State University and Baylor University. He takes his new position on January 19.

Storm Wilkins has assumed the role of executive director of the Maguire Academy of Insurance and Risk Management in the Erivan K. Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. Wilkins, an educator and insurance professional, succeeds Michael Angelina, who will continue to serve the Haub School as an executive-in-residence. Wilkins most recently was an assistant professor in the risk, insurance, and healthcare management department in the Fox School of Business at Temple University in Philadelphia.

New Programs

In the spring of 2021, the Malcolm Baldrige School of Business at Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut, will introduce two new degree programs in gaming and esports management. The bachelor of science degree is available online or in-person, while the master of science degree is offered online. The bachelor’s program will focus on the entire gaming and esports industry, especially competitive gaming, product life cycle, and project management. Students will be able to choose between concentrations in entrepreneurship or event planning and management. The master’s program will offer interdisciplinary learning relevant to all aspects of the game industry, from design and broadcasting to competitive play and development.

The University of Exeter Business School in the United Kingdom has launched the Exeter Sustainable Finance Centre. Its initial focus will be on producing research into how environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) elements factor into investment and financial decisions, and on how finance helps solve global challenges such as climate change and rising inequality. The center also will develop a teaching focus with new undergraduate and postgraduate modules on sustainable and responsible finance. It will be led by Chendi Zhang, professor of finance and director of research at the school.

In August 2021, BI Norwegian Business School will launch an interdisciplinary MSc in sustainable finance that will explore the role of sustainability for investors, companies, and civil society. The program covers global sustainable development, climate change, and corporate social responsibility, as well as general management, quantitative, and finance skills. Students will explore how to balance ESG risks and rewards against traditional financial risk and returns in the context of corporate investments and valuation.

The University of California Riverside’s A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management has launched a new master of science in business analytics program (MSBA), which is jointly offered by the School of Business and the department of statistics in the College of Agricultural and Natural Sciences. The STEM program covers big-data methods, statistics, and business management principles and offers three specialized career tracks in finance, marketing, and operations. In addition, students will gain hands-on experience in a capstone project working with industry in the business analytics space.

Collaborations

SKEMA Business School—with locations in France, China, the United States, Brazil, and South Africa—and HEC Montreal in Canada are partnering to offer a joint master in management program in chartered accountancy. The program launches during the 2021 fall semester and can be completed in three years. Students will obtain two degrees: a Grande École master in management degree with a specialization in accounting and auditing from SKEMA, and a master in management accounting-control-audit from HEC Montreal. Because accounting rules vary from country to country, the double degree will make it easier for graduates of the program to attain international mobility during their careers.

Starting in November 2021, the Mannheim Business School at the University of Mannheim in Germany and the Arison School of Business at IDC Herzliya in Israel will offer a full-time master in management in analytics. The program will focus on the challenges of managing digital transformation and converting data into a source of business value. Students will spend half of the one-year program in Israel, which has a high number of startup businesses, and half in Germany, which has a wide range of established corporations in all sectors. The curriculum includes courses in data management and analytics, business, and technology. Student teams also will undertake business analytics projects at partner companies to apply their skills.

Three entities of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville are working together to launch a series of programs called Foundations of Data Science for Business Leaders. Darden Executive Education and Lifelong Learning, the School of Data Science, and the McIntire School of Commerce will create the programs, which are designed for senior business leaders who want to develop their own data science expertise and manage data-intensive teams. Topics include strategic use of data, data science methods and applications, and information management of analytics. The two-day workshops will be offered in person at UVA Darden in Arlington, Virginia, as well as virtually. Each course counts toward a certificate in management from Darden Executive Education and Lifelong Learning.

Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia, has entered into a partnership with the Washington Justice—a professional sports team in the Overwatch League, which plays the video game Overwatch. The Washington Justice team represents the DMV region (the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia). Shenandoah students will participate in internships focused on business operations, team operations, sponsorships, and marketing. They also will have a chance to attend live and online events where they will gain experience in the areas of event production, social media management, and business development. Shenandoah’s esports programs are housed within the School of Business and include an MBA, BBA, and certificate programs in esports management. The partnership will launch at the beginning of 2021 and will conclude at the end of summer 2022.

MIP, the Business School of Politecnico di Milano in Italy, has joined with independent consultancy The Mind at Work to reimagine the role of business. Initially, the collaboration will focus on realigning the purpose, values, and culture of MIP; eventually it will culminate in a new educational offering designed to challenge the traditional profit-driven model of business. The school plans to infuse its MBA, EMBA, and other programs with the new purpose-oriented educational approach and relaunch them in 2021.

The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, a national nonprofit organization focused on diversity and inclusion in U.S. businesses, has established a memorandum of understanding with the New York Theological Seminary (NYTS). The two organizations are planning to collaborate on events and engage in cross-promotional opportunities with students and alumni of both institutions. NYTS is a private nondenominational Christian seminary that prepares faith leaders for ministry by providing resources, tools, and strategies for effective leadership.

The Center for Business Civic Engagement (CBCE) at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, has established its Robotic Process Automation initiative in partnership with UiPath, a software company headquartered in New York City. Through the initiative, the partners will generate research and share findings about the ways that the adoption of RPA technology can improve productivity, operations, and service delivery in public sector organizations.

Other News

Breakbulk Middle East (BBME) is planning a two-day event in February designed to promote the growth of the project cargo industry by educating aspiring young professionals about the field. Held under the auspices of the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, the event will bring together students from regional universities with leaders from local, regional, and international companies. Among the schools that will be participating in the 2021 edition of BBME are the College of International Transport and Logistics at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, headquartered in Alexandria; the Academy’s branch in Sharjah, UAE; Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi; Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy; Middlesex University Dubai; and Jordan Academy for Maritime Studies.

 
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