Integrating the SME voice into the student journey
Enhancing student experience and graduate outcomes
13:30-16:00, 6 December, online
The interactive workshop will explore how embedding small businesses into the student journey enhances student experience and supports the employability of business school graduates. It is an opportunity for business & management educators at both UG and PG level to share best practice and identify new opportunities.
Learning Outcomes:
- Gain deeper understanding of the benefits of including SMEs in the curriculum and broader student experience
- Map own experience of using SMEs to the student journey
- Learn from best practice exemplified in the case studies
This workshop follows up on the work undertaken in the 2021 Small Business Charter Report "A guide to how business schools can develop academic staff to engage with SMEs"
Speakers include:
Dr Alexandra Anderson
Principal Lecturer, Sheffield Business School
Sian Rees
Principal Consultant, Hafren Associates, Non Executive Director, Small Business Charter
Jennie Shorley
Head of Engaged Scholarship and Impact, Faculty of Business & Law, Manchester Metropolitan University
Dr Matt Sutherland
Associate Professor & SBC Board Member
David Taylor
Education Lead and Student Enterprise Lead, Faculty of Business and Law, Manchester Metropolitan University
Preliminary programme
13:30
Welcome and introductions from the Chair
Sian Rees, Principal Consultant, Hafren Associates, Non Executive Director, Small Business Charter
13:40
Part One: Embedding small businesses in the curriculum: what works
In this opening session we will hear a number of case studies from SBC award holding schools showing a variety of ways in which small businesses are embedded into the business school curriculum.
Case Study 1: SMEs in enterprise education
Jennie Shorley, Head of Engaged Scholarship and Impact, Faculty of Business & Law, Manchester Metropolitan University
David Taylor, Education Lead and Student Enterprise Lead, Faculty of Business and Law, Manchester Metropolitan University
Case Study 2: SMEs in consultancy projects
Dr Alexandra Anderson, Principal Lecturer, Sheffield Business School
Case Study 3: SMEs contributing to curriculum development and clinics
Dr Matt Sutherland, Associate Professor & SBC Board Member
Case Study 4: SME teaching cases
Dr Alexandra Anderson, Principal Lecturer, Sheffield Business School
14:55
Break
15:10
Part Two: Breakout group discussions
In the second part of the workshop participants split into breakout groups in which to drill-down into the specific issues emerging from the earlier session. Each group will be led by a facilitator who will set out the framework for the discussion.
Topics for discussion will include:
- How do you currently engage with SMEs?
- What are the benefits of working with SMEs?
- What are the barriers and enablers to doing this?
- What are the main action(s) you will take away?
Breakouts facilitated by:
Dr Alexandra Anderson, Principal Lecturer, Sheffield Business School
Dr Matt Sutherland, Associate Professor & SBC Board Member
15:40
Feedback and summation
In the closing part of the workshop each breakout group will feedback including the actions that were discussed; and there will be time for open discussion about next steps.
Led by the Chair
16:20
Close
The event pricings are as follows:
Members of the Chartered ABS: £30
Non-members: £40
Paying by invoice? Make sure you provide a valid Purchase Order Number when you make your booking.
If you have any questions please contact:
Rebecca Okelola
SBC Administrator
rebecca.okelola@charteredabs.org
"Today over 98% of the UK business population consists of micro and SME businesses"
"Increasingly, universities have an appetite to work with businesses to test concepts, develop research partnerships and provide vehicles for training staff"
"Business and management schools, as the bridge between theory and practice are well placed to lead the way in the range and scale of SME engagement"
