Ashcroft Staff Newsletter

Ashcroft Staff NewsletterAshcroft International Business School | Issue 3 July 2009

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Update from the Dean

Welcome to the Latest Issue of our Staff Newsletter

An excellent set of stories and updates – thanks to all the staff who haveprovided copy for Christine. Please keep it up – there is so much going on andwe have some great stories that have good external profile value as well. Keepthe material flowing to Christine please!

We are coming towards the end of another busy semester and I am pleased tosay we have had a good assessment period – thanks for all the hard work of all.

Over the summer there will be considerable progress on the re-development ofthe Cambridge campus. Having the builders in is never fun and we will have toput up with quite a bit of disruption. But the new facilities are long overdue andwe as a School will be a major beneficiary of a new building. Your support andpatience will be appreciated and it will be important we all contribute tocarefully managing our student experience during the building works.

There are many things going on in the sector and I think we all need to expectthat the public sector in general, and universities in particular, will face somechallenging times over the next 2 to 3 years. Changes to HEFCE funding evenfor next year are expected to have a serious impact on our projected monies.

These external pressures make it even more important that we follow throughon our University Corporate Plan. Our growth aspirations – while stretching – doprovide us with the opportunity to address the external pressures we face. In theSchool next year we will bring forward more new collaborative partnerships inthe UK and overseas. We will also move along our curriculum review projectand establish and lead for our University the new research Institute ofInternational Management Practice.

So lots on – as ever! I hope you all find time to take a well deserved rest overthe summer and thank you all for your continuing hard work under challengingcircumstances.

Martin

EditorialWelcome to the 3rd Edition of the Ashcroft StaffNewsletter - which is aimed at keeping you up-to-date with news and events in our School.Thank you to those of you who submittedarticles for this issue, please keep the storiescoming. We would particularly like to receivesome good news stories from our partnerinstitutions both in the UK and overseas.

Contact usThe next issue of the Ashcroft Staff Newsletteris due out in March 2010 and we invite you tosubmit copy for this to Christine Durrant [email protected]. Topics ofinterest could include those related to:

• Good news stories• People• Events• Research• International visits• Diary dates, etc.

…or anything else you think may be of interestto colleagues.

We would also welcome your feedback,particularly in terms of content and also ournew way of distributing the newsletter usingIssuu, a free digital publishing service.

ContentsPage

1 New Collaborative Partnershipwith LCA Mauritius

2 AIBS HOTS Tough!3 Enterprise Launches4 FLUX National Final 20095 MPC Member Gains Interest on Return

ABE Graduation Success in Rwanda6 Inaugural Research Conference7 Research Taster Placement Scheme7 What I did on my Sabbatical8 Third Annual Research

Student Conference8 Harvard for Heather9 Association of

Business Schools in Essex10 Something Brewing at HR Forum11 Buddhism and Building Bridges12 China Visit12 Emily’s Marathon Effort!13 Workplace of Tomorrow –

people and planetPathfinder Masterclass

14 2nd up for 3rd Sector Futures15 Thai Student

Association Cambridge (TSAC)16 Misleadership –

Contributions Requested!

Ashcroft International Business School | 1Ashcroft Staff Newsletter

NewCollaborativePartnershipwith LCAMauritiusThe London College of Accountancy (LCA)entered into an academic partnership withAnglia Ruskin University in 2007 andsince that time they have been delivering arange of business related undergraduateand postgraduate courses in Londonprimarily to international students. In2008 LCA opened a new centre in PortLouis, Mauritius. This centre hassuccessfully run ACCA courses for the lastyear. LCA is the first and only educationalprovider to receive the prestigious GoldStatus Award for ACCA for the Mauritiancampus.

In May 2009 AIBS successfully validatedthe following pathways to be offered onthe LCA Mauritian campus:

• Access Certificate in Accounting andManagement

• BA (Hons) Applied Accounting• BA (Hons) International Business

Management

These pathways are due to start inJanuary 2010 with an estimated numberof up to 200 students.

The current location for LCA’s Mauritianprovision is Victoria House in Port Louis.Details of the current location with picturesof the classrooms can be found on theCollege’s website atwww.lcamauritius.com. In anticipation ofa successful validation, LCA havepurchased one floor (10,500 sq ft) of ahigh rise block in Ebene CyberCity, nextdoor to the University of Mauritius. This isan up-and-coming area of Mauritius inwhich several key organisations arelocated such as HSBC and Ernst & Young.

“This new partnership between AIBS andLCA Mauritius is a unique opportunity forthe Anglia Ruskin brand to extend itsreputation within the Africa/Asia region”

Jon Salkeld (Director of CorporateEducation & UK Partnerships)

Jon SalkeldT: 0845 196 6855E: [email protected]

Members of Anglia Ruskin University staff with Ravi Gill, Managing Director of the London College of Accountancy,during their recent visit to Mauritius

2 | Ashcroft International Business School Ashcroft Staff Newsletter

HOTS Business Plan Competition won byAIBS International Business team

In May AIBS was invited to take part in theHOTS (Hotel Operations Tactics andStrategy) competition by our internationalpartner University Zuyd, Maastricht. Thefirst round of the competition took placesimultaneously in Cambridge, UniversityZuyd Maastricht, Zaragoza HotelManagement School, Cologne University ofApplied Sciences and Nizhny NovgorodState University. AIBS was represented inthe Cambridge heat by four InternationalBusiness Students: Paula Petraityte, JostBraeckelmann, Valentin Raspe andChristoph Grunewald.

The HOTS challenge is based aroundteams assuming the management of afailing hotel and the first round task was towrite a business plan with the aim ofreviving the hotel’s fortunes. In Cambridgestudents visited the Best Western GonvilleHotel where Deputy General ManagerChristopher Ogston offered valuable adviceand guidance on key operational, financialand marketing aspects of hotelmanagement. Mr Ogston judged the teamcomprising Paula and Jost to have writtenthe most realistic plan.

The semi-finals and final took place inMaastricht during June 8th – 12th.Competitors from all international centres

were very generously treated to aprogramme of sight seeing tours by thehosts, University Zuyd, as they worked onthe next stages of the competition.

For the semi-finals students implementedthe recommendations in their businessplans playing against other teams in theHOTS simulation. The top 5 teams in thesimulation phase (based on owners equityafter 3 years) made it through to the final.AIBS was represented by Paula and Jost inthe final who finished third in thesimulation stage.

Friday brought the final in the impressivesetting of the Amrath Grand Hotel DeL’Empereur, Maastricht. The teams nowhad to defend the recommendations madein their business plan and reflect on theirperformance in the simulation in a 30minute presentation to a panel of judgescomprising academics from UniversityZuyd and Mr Marcello Pauw, GeneralManager of the Hotel L’Empereur.

Following the presentations there was anervous wait as the panel considered theirverdict. After 20 minutes Mr Pauw,chairman of the panel, announced thatunanimously Paula and Jost fromCambridge were the winners. Mr Pauw’sverdict was that the winning plan wasbased on an accurate diagnosis of keyproblem areas, was meticulously planned,

was the most realistic given the resourcesavailable and that he would have nohesitation in investing in the winningteam.

The project was funded by University Zuydwith all planning and co-ordination underthe leadership of Gaby Gijsberts assistedby a team of student helpers.

Tim FroggettT: 0845 196 2212E: [email protected]

AIBS HOTS Tough !


EnterpriseLaunchesThe Ashcroft Enterprise Society, based inthe Ashcroft International Business School,was launched by Anglia Ruskin Universityon 2nd July with a reception in the RuskinGallery. Established by the students on theBA (Hons) Enterprise and EntrepreneurialManagement, the event was very wellattended and included representativesfrom many of the course sponsor firms andentrepreneurs from the ‘entrepreneurs inresidence’ network. Representatives ofTTP, Citylife, Melbourn Scientific, GrantInstruments and leading entrepreneurssuch as Amy Mikado, Steve Westcott andJulie Horne were serenaded by musicprovided by Cliff and Prue Ward, formerstudents at Anglia Ruskin University.

Guests were welcomed by Professor StuartWall, who introduced the society as ‘agreat example of the ways in whichenterprise and entrepreneurship are beingembedded not only within the School, butright across the university as a whole’.

Acting President of the society, JamesCoburn, a student on the BA (Hons)Enterprise and EntrepreneurialManagement, announced that ‘The societywill provide a focal point for enterprisingstudents across the university. Activitieswill include regular lectures from world-class entrepreneurs, networking eventsand business competitions.’ Jameswelcomed the President of CambridgeEntrepreneurs, the Cambridge Universitystudent enterprise society, saying ‘We will

seek to build upon the very close links wehave established with students atCambridge University to create a city wideenterprise society capable of havingmaximum impact within the studentcommunity of both universities.’

The society was officially launched byWalter Herriot, formerly Managing Directorof St John’s Innovation Centre and Directorof the Ashcroft entrepreneurs in residencenetwork. Walter celebrated the emergenceof the society from the BA (Hons)Enterprise and EntrepreneurialManagement programme saying ‘Thisfantastic initiative encapsulates everythingthat is so exciting about this highlyinnovative academic programme. Throughthe entrepreneur in residence scheme, it

embeds entrepreneurs within theacademic programme in a meaningful waythat creates added value for both thestudents and the entrepreneursthemselves. The Ashcroft EnterpriseSociety will provide a very effective vehicleto promote student enterprise not onlywithin the Ashcroft International BusinessSchool, but across the whole city.’

Professor Lester Lloyd-Reason, CourseDirector for the BA (Hons) Enterprise andEntrepreneurial Management brought thelaunch to a close commenting ‘It isfantastic to see so many senior membersof Anglia Ruskin University, sponsor firms,entrepreneurs and students from bothuniversities in the city here together tocelebrate the launch of this society. Thisencapsulates the way in which we arebringing the academic and theentrepreneurial worlds together throughthis academic programme. The AshcroftEnterprise Society, building upon theseestablished entrepreneurial networks, willplay a major role in helping ourenterprising students realise theirpotential.’

The activities of the society will get off to aflying start on October 12th, when theinaugural Annual Ashcroft EnterpriseSociety Lecture will be delivered by theCEO of the Fair Trade Organisation atAnglia Ruskin University. For moreinformation on the Ashcroft InternationalEnterprise Society, or for further details onthe inaugural annual lecture, pleasecontact Professor Lester Lloyd-Reason.

Professor Lester Lloyd-ReasonT: 0845 196 2479E: [email protected]

Professor Lester Lloyd-Reason, Course Director BA (Hons) Enterprise and EntrepreneurialManagement, James Coburn, President of Ashcroft Enterprise Society, Walter Herriot,Director of the Entrepreneur in Residence network and Professor Stuart Wall

Melinda Dowson, student o BA (Hons) Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Management, JulieHorn, Entrepreneur and Walter Herriot, Director of the Entrepreneur in Residence network

Ashcroft Staff Newsletter4 | Ashcroft International Business School

FLUX is a key annual inter-universitycompetition aimed at bridging the gapbetween education and the world of work.Student teams spend 36 hours solving abusiness challenge provided to them at theevent. The event enables them to focus ontheir employability skills, meet recruiters,improve interview skills, meet new peopleand have a great time. Business expertsfrom some of the UK’s most dynamiccompanies (e.g. Coca-Cola, Experian, J.P.Morgan and KPMG) judge the teams inApprentice-style meetings and DragonsDen-style pitches.

Our AIBS team set off for Plymouth onSunday 5th April. The team wascomprised of students from six differentcountries; Pakistan, Estonia, Poland,Bulgaria, France and the UK. As themajority of our team had not previouslytravelled further than London, the trainjourney enabled them to take in sightssuch as the White Horse at Westbury, andthe beautiful Devon coastline.

On Monday, after a briefing, thirtyUniversity teams began working on theirbusiness scenarios. Our team workedexcellently together, even choosing toreturn early from dinner and continueworking into the early hours!

On Tuesday morning, they were invited toattend business related workshops and viefor the attention of experts to whom theycould informally pitch their ideas. Laterthey attended scheduled interviews withexpert panels, the students used thesesessions to ask specific questions onaspects of their business e.g. raisingfinance. Once these sessions werecompleted, the team had to present theirfinished plan to an audience of twelveexperts, and seven participating universityteams. They then faced a public grillingfrom the experts! It was an intenselearning curve and although our team didextremely well they unfortunately were notchosen as the overall winner,

congratulations to Ulster University, afantastic competitor, who went on to winthe £3,000 prize!

Our team all agreed that the experiencewas extremely beneficial, developing bothpersonal and academic skills and openingtheir minds to enterprise andentrepreneurship. We look forward totaking a new team to Plymouth in 2010!

Robert JonesT: 0845 196 2549E: [email protected]

FLUX National Final 2009

Ashcroft Staff Newsletter Ashcroft International Business School | 5

MPC MemberGains Intereston Return

Kate Barker, member of the MonetaryPolicy Committee visited AIBS on April21st. The MPC is part of the Bank ofEngland and meets monthly to set thebank rate. It has played a central role tothe response to the financial crisis;recently reducing interest ratessignificantly. She joined MargaretO’Quigley’s Monetary Economics class,giving a brief talk and answeringquestions. Kate has been a member ofthe MPC since 2001 and all thestudents were thrilled to have someonewith her experience and knowledge, atthe heart of policy making, talking tothem about the current situation. Onecommented that “It just brings thesubject to life when you meet someonewho can answer your questions directlyfrom intimate knowledge”. Kate said thatwhile she is a frequent visitor to theuniversity, in her capacity as Chair of theGovernor’s, she rarely gets the chance tomeet the students. She was impressed bytheir knowledge and enthusiasm and theirpertinent questions about whether interestrates should have been reduced earlierand whether, if quantitative easing did notwork there are realistic alternatives. “It was

very kind of Kate to take time out from hervery busy schedule to speak to mystudents and they and I really appreciateda memorable and thought provokingoccasion”, said Margaret, Senior Lecturerin Economics in the Business Schoolbased in Chelmsford.

Margaret O’QuigleyT: 0845 196 6873E: margaret.o’[email protected]

Kate Barker and Margaret O’Quigleywith students from Margaret’s Monetary Economics Class

ABE Graduation Success in RwandaDr Penelope Hood attending a recentgraduation in Rwanda at the KigaliInstitute of Management along withthe founder member of theAssociation of Business Executives(ABE), Lyndon Jones.

ABE students who apply to join AngliaRuskin University are now able toaccess our UK degrees using creditsfrom their prior qualifications.

Dr Penelope HoodT: 0845 196 6876E: [email protected]

Ashcroft Staff Newsletter6 | Ashcroft International Business School

The First AIBS Annual ResearchConference was held on Wednesday 10thJune 2009 at Chelmsford. The aims of theevent were threefold: to showcase researchsuccess within AIBS; to run a number ofpractical research workshops and thirdly,to integrate our research students intoAIBS. It was opened by Professor AlanSibbald who emphasised the importanceof research and scholarship.

Workshops were held during the morningsession on: Research bid writing, led byProfessor Terry Mughan; Research success– making it happen, led by ProfessorLester Lloyd-Reason; Undertaking adoctorate – the student perspective, led byKaren Beckwith, Brynn Deprey, JohnMurphy and David Flude. Following lunchand poster displays there were furtherworkshop sessions on Writing forpublication and creating a writing group,led by Dr Bronwen Rees; DevelopingScholarly Activity, led by Dr Robert Willisand Dr Sonal Minocha; The ResearchExcellence Framework led by Dr RobertWillis and Trends and developments

impacting on Business Schools: thechanging context led by Johh McCulloughand The changing context and the role ofthe Professors of Management Practice ledby Professor Roger Jeynes.

The event was well attended by staff andstudents and felt to have made a genuinecontribution to the future of Research inAIBS.

Inaugural Research Conference

Ashcroft Staff Newsletter Ashcroft International Business School | 7

ResearchTasterPlacementScheme

It was reported in the last edition of theAshcroft Staff Newsletter that Lisa Reader,a 3rd year Business and Managementstudent, was entered for theUndergraduate Research Taster PlacementScheme. This makes up one part of thenewly established £1 million ViceChancellor’s Research Fund to supportresearch and scholarly activities and Lisawas successful in her application.Lisa has commented: “Being offered the

Research Taster Placement scheme, haspresented a wonderful opportunity for meto experience carrying out research and allthat it entails, thus giving me theexperience to make an informed decisionabout which Masters I wish to do.”

The main aim of Lisa’s placement is acontinuation of her dissertation, in that itwill be looking more in-depth into themanagement of organisational changewithin the hospitality industry. In order todo this the following techniques will betested within the hospitality industry:

• the change model bySmith and Gee

• the Global Fitness Framework byRaymond and Smith

• the ideas being developed by theGlobal Responsible LeadershipInitiative (GRLI)

Alongside this research Lisa is also a GRLIAmbassador and is looking for morestudents from across the University to joinher in making this an exciting and majorlearning adventure.

What I did onmy Sabbatical

The last semester was a busy one for meand especially as I was trying to make fulluse of the opportunity of a sabbatical. Mymain areas of development were HighPerformance Working (HPW) with DianeKeeble-Allen and developing novel ideas oforganisational communication and ethicalpractices using dialogue with my colleagueAlan Thornton in the School of Education.

My work with Diane saw us attend fourmajor international conferences (10thUniversity Forum for Human ResourceDevelopment Conference, 20thAssociation francophone de Gestion desResources Humaines Conference, and theBritish Academy of ManagementConference). In addition to this wepublished four refereed journal articles; inthe International Journal of Environmental,Cultural, Economic and SocialSustainability; Journal of Finance andManagement in Public Services and theTotal Equality Management Journal andwe also have several other publicationspending, all for international journalpublication, as we go to press.

I have also been working with mycolleague Alan Thornton in Faculty ofEducation regarding the use of dialogueand organisational life. We have pursuedthe notion of ‘secret data’ in organisationsusing narratives and the dialogic process.We have produced and presentedconference papers at four internationalconferences (British Academy ofManagement, European Society forResearch on the Education of Adults andThe European Centre for ResearchMethods) and as I write we have a paperunder review with the Journal of ReflectivePractice. We also exhibited our work in theChelmsford Art Gallery from April – June.

Whilst these two areas were the mainthrust of my sabbatical I have also beenbusy pursuing related areas concerning therole of the modern business school andpractitioner research. I have thereforepresented on this issue at the BritishManagement and Finance Conference;British Academy of ManagementConference, the World Universities Forumand European Society for Research on theEducation of Adults Conference. I havealso been pursuing the use of theStructured Literature Review (SLR) as aresearch methodology and, together withDiane Keeble-Allen, we have publishedthis in the US- China Education Review.

I have also been collaborating with

colleagues from Lincoln University andhave a joint paper with Professor CaroleBrooks at the Lincoln Business School onthe theme of spirituality at the CriticalManagement Studies Conference atWarwick University in July.

Dr Andrew ArmitageT: 0845 196 6846E: Andrew [email protected]


ThirdAnnualResearchStudentConference

The Third Annual Research StudentConference, organised by Research,Development and CommercialServices, was held in Chelmsford onSaturday, 16 May 2009. It wasattended by eighty-two researchstudents and staff and was declared tobe a great success.

The Conference was opened byProfessor Mike Thorne whocelebrated in his address theUniversity’s RAE successes anddetailed the Research Strategy thatdemonstrates and underpins theUniversity’s commitment to thedeveloping research culture. Heemphasised the need for researchersto network and take advantage of allresearch opportunities.AIBS was represented by four of ourPhD students who produced postersfor the event. The topics were:‘Multipurpose MultidimensionalConceptual Frameworks’ by JohnMurphy; ‘Organisational CulturalModification: The Concept of theCollaborative Cultural RelationshipSuperhighway’ by David Flude;‘Refining and Defining ResearchQuestions’ by Karen Beckwith and‘The New Language of NHSLeadership – A Deliberate StepToward Culture Change, or a Stumbleinto the unknown’.

The Fourth Annual Research StudentConference will take place onSaturday, 22 May 2010.

HarvardforHeather

Heather Smeaton-Webb was awardedthe Doctorate of BusinessAdministration in June 2008 havingstudied with Anglia Ruskin Universitysince commencing her first degree withwhat was then called the CambridgeRegional College in 1988. She went onto complete the DMS and an MScbefore commencing the DBA.Her research area was “Exploring

strategic organisational challenges ofmergers and acquisitions” and as aresult of her doctorate she has beenfunded by EDF to go to Harvard. Sheused her knowledge from her doctorateto manage a co-operative venturewhich in its way was similar to amerger/acquisition and won a nationalprize for the successful outcome.

Heather is now a Senior Manager atEDF Energy having joined LondonElectric with no qualifications andqualified as an engineer on the job.

“Heather’s DBA is an excellentexample of practice basedresearch in action. I congratulateHeather for what she has achievedthrough her dedication”.Dr Rob Willis, Research Director

Dr Rob WillisT: 0845 196 6854E: [email protected]


Associationof BusinessSchools inEssex

The Department at Chelmsford hosted aStrategic Development Event for thealumni of the Association of BusinessSchool (ABS), an independent networkorganisation for all the leading businessschools of UK universities, highereducation institutions and independentmanagement colleges.

Delegates attending the event camefrom over 40 institutions which wererepresented by members of bothacademic and administrative staff andtheir Deans and was headed byJonathan Slack, Chief Executive of theABS.

The event focused on visits to ourSchool and Judge Business School,Cambridge, and provided a snapshot ofthe school size, structure, budget,operation, specialisms and organisation.

Dr Sonal MinochaHead of Department, Chelmsford, AIBScommented:“It was a fantastic opportunity for us toshare the successes and challenges weface as a New University BusinessSchool with our colleagues in otherBusiness Schools. We used theopportunity to showcase our activity inthe areas of Entrepreneurship,International Collaborative activity andour strategy for success in research andcorporate education.”

Excellent feedback was received and atthe end of the event Professor MartinReynolds, Pro Vice Chancellor andDean, AIBS quoted: “It was good to seemembers of the business schoolcommunity at this event and we wereable to test our Vision with thosepresent. We were also delighted toreceive excellent feedback from theattendees.”


The most successful HR Forum to datetook place at the Ashcroft InternationalBusiness School in Chelmsford in June.The HR Forum, which is co-hosted withPrettys Solicitors, provides an informationand networking opportunity for senior HRprofessionals working or living in the area.Approximately 80 participants turned upfor an early morning breakfast, provided byReed HR, to hear the views of thespeakers on employee engagement.

The guest speaker was Dr Andy Wood,Managing Director of Adnams, worldfamous brewers, based in Southwold,Essex, with an enviable regional brandwhich now has national and internationalreach. When Andy joined Adnams it was atraditional top-down, hierarchicalorganisation where management, in theform of functional barons, was concernedwith doing things right and did notencourage staff involvement. Shareholdervalue was being destroyed and thecompany was stagnating. The companyhas changed beyond all recognition. It hasbecome much more market-oriented andcould be described as a meritocracy withembedded values and an emphasis onteam working where leadership isconcerned with doing the right things. Theresult is that stakeholder value, rather than

solely shareholder value, is beingdelivered.

The change was driven by a synthesis offour areas, values, leadership, brand andstakeholders. Leadership behaviours arevalued and rewarded with the emphasison honesty, promise keeping, ability toinspire, integrity, fairness, respect for theindividual and managerial competence. InAdnams’ attitude surveys, employees areasked to rate all executive directors, whoare named individually, on adherence toAdnams’ values, their willingness to listen,approachability and encouragement ofnew ideas. This is an innovative approachwhich many organisations shouldconsider, including our own. Andyemphasised that transformationalleadership behaviours encouraged trustand commitment and enabled ordinarypeople to do extraordinary things. He gavean example of how an employee whojoined Adnams as a driver, having beendismissed from the forces for becomingpregnant (luckily a thing of the past thesedays) had developed and moved throughAdnams to become Operations Managerfor the entire organisation.

Employee engagement was approachedfrom another angle by Matthew Cole, Head

of Employment Services at PrettysSolicitors. He opened up his session bytalking about diversity and the potentiallink between good diversity policies andimproved performance. He emphasisedthe demographic imperatives which willfocus employers on implementing diversityinitiatives. Matthew then gave an overviewof The Equality Bill 2009 which iscurrently making its way throughparliament. He addressed the key issuesthat would be faced by many of the seniorHR professionals present when TheEquality Bill is implemented, currentlyplanned for October 2010. However,although the Bill has all party support, ageneral election may put everything on theback burner. As always Matthew’sexpertise was warmly welcomed byparticipants.

The next meeting of the HR Forum isplanned for January 2010 when we hopeto be able to focus on talent managementin challenging times. If you would likefurther details please contact:

Hermione McIntoshT: 0845 196 6882E: [email protected]

Something’s Brewingat HR Forum


Buddhism andBuilding Bridges

Dr Bronwen Rees gives keynote speech at2nd Buddhist Economics Conference atUbon Ratachaee, University, Thailand

Following on from her trip in December2008, Dr Bronwen Rees was invited backto Thailand both for the internationallaunch of Interconnections, and to give thekeynote speech at the 2nd BuddhistEconomics Conference. This was a keyhonour: both in terms of a Westernergiving this talk in a Buddhist country, andthe fact that traditionally the religiousexperts are men.

Over 120 people from all over the globeattended this conference, where much ofthe focus was on sustainable community,new currencies, new ways of dialoguing.Buddhist Economics, with its emphasis onsystems thinking, is growing rapidly as adiscipline, just as the secular wisdom ofBuddhist practice has been increasinglyvalued in many other different disciplinessuch as psychology, neuroscienceand ecology.

The speech was entitled ‘Building BridgesBetween East and West: BuddhistEconomics in Practice’ and examined thecurrent crisis in economics from a systemsperspective, moving on to howorganisations could face up to thechallenges of the current time. Sheexamined the current pathology of oursystems and showed how a reflectivepractice could help us examine moredeeply our conditions, and enable us todevelop ethical organisations.

In particular, she looked at the splitbetween materialism and spirituality whichhad created a sense of isolation andfragmentation in our organisations andargued that one of the ways in which thiswould happen is through a reconnection tonature and more natural patterns, as ameans of creating sustainablecommunities.

She drew on the work of CrucibleResearch, which she founded, consistingof a team of meditation and therapeuticpractitioners, which has been researchinginto how to develop more ‘mindful’ ways ofbehaving in organisations. This researchhas been going for over 8 years now, andis beginning to take root in practice inorganisations.

In addition to giving this speech, she alsoran a workshop, and launched the thirdedition of Interconnections.

Dr Bronwen ReesT: 0845 196 2238E: [email protected]

Some of the benefits of Buddhistpractice that could help inorganisations were:

• Ability to see situation clearly andrespond skilfully

• Act with integrity in the midst ofuncertainty

• Act with compassion and an openheart

• Act with clear intent

Finally, she outlined some of thecharacteristics of ethicalorganisations:

• structure is flexible and self-emergent• collaboration around shared positive

purpose• environment respects rather than

exploits supply chain, employees,customers

• provides ethical lifestyles• learning capacity with feedback loops• Kaizen – continuous improvement• developing a marketplace that is

more like a connected ecosystem• commitment and integrity to the

identified positive purpose


China VisitGeoff Abbott and Jimmy Wu from theInternational Office are pictured during arecent trip to China. They visited BeijingInternational Education Institute who workwith over 30 Key Chinese universitiesdelivering the Higher National Diploma inChina.

Successful students will be awardedHigher National Diploma after three yearsof study in China and study abroad on aTop-Up programme in different UKuniversities.

Emily’sMarathonEffort!

The Brain and Spine Foundation wasfounded in 1992 to help the 10 millionpeople affected by brain and spineconditions in the UK. Following a tragicpersonal loss Emily, supported by friendsand family, set about raising money for theFoundation and has over the last yearraised over £6,000.

Emily and her team mates successfullycompleted the 2009 London Marathon andhere is her personal account of the day.

‘You may have heard already that Icompleted the London Marathon! Myfinishing time was 4 hours and 45 minutesand 33 seconds. I was the 5,319th femailto cross the finish line.

I’m pleased to say that I ran all the waydespite a ‘little voice in my ear’ tellingme to stop at every mile point after the16th mile!

It was an amazing day. The crowd wereabsolutely terrific as were my fellowrunners. London looked beautiful in thebright sunshine. My high points, other than

the crowds of supporters, were crossingTower Bridge and running pastBuckingham Palace.

It was also a very emotional day,especially when thinking about all themoney that I and my team mates haveraised over the last year thanks to all ourfriends and family.

So, a big THANK YOU to everyone whohas sponsored me – it really means somuch – your support and encouragementhas been outstanding.’

Congratulations Emily from all yourcolleagues here in the Business School onyour marathon effort!


PathfinderMasterclassEarlier this year the AshcroftInternational Business School (AIBS)hosted a ‘Pathfinder Masterclass’ atMadingley Hall, near Cambridge, whichwas attended by forty participants. Itwas an inspirational day led by AdrianGilpin, Chairman of The Institute ofHuman Development (IHD). IHD is agroup of professionals dedicated to thestudy and dissemination of ideascontributing to human excellence.

According to Adrian, Pathfinders have apositive impact on people around themand they make a disproportionatecontribution to their organisation orcommunity. It was an insightful dayand many of the participants wereinfected by Adrian’s zeal and hisoptimistic can-do approach. Adriandemonstrated how the Pathfinderprinciples had helped him to beresilient and deal with delay,disappointment and disaster better thanothers.

The day-long event was intense, butwas captured on film to be used on theIHD website. As the level of individualfacilitation was low on that day, Adrianreturned to the Chelmsford campus ofAIBS in June and facilitated aninteractive learning forum for a smallernumber of participants. Adrian took therole of coach and guided participantsthrough a number of soul searchingquestions which focussed people’sminds on their goals; the resourcesthey already had to achieve those goalsand what they perceived to be stoppingthem, including their worries andanxieties. Participants left the eventfeeling more positive and re-invigoratedto meet the challenges in their dailylives.

For more information about AdrianGilpin and the Institute of HumanDevelopment go to www.ihd.co.uk.

Hermione McIntoshT: 0845 196 6852E: [email protected]

WorkplaceofTomorrow -people andplanetAs a result of his work with theGlobal Responsible LeadershipInitiative (GRLI) JonathanSmith has been invited to be aguest contributor at the series ofseminars focusing on the‘Workplace of Tomorrow’ beingorganised by the Oasis Schoolof Human Relations, based inBoston Spa, West Yorkshire.

The Chief Executive of theJoseph Rowntree Foundationand the former assistantdirector of strategy at YorkshireForward and current director atURS Corporation, the world’slargest engineering andconsultancy business, areamong the other contributors.The seminars aim to engagewith and deepen understandingof issues such as currenteconomic concerns, changingdemography, the introduction ofrecommendations from TheBlack Report, environmentalissues and their impact on theworkplace. The sessions willalso help form ideas for actionthat could be taken at work toaddress these areas.

“Managers and leaders want toknow how they can face thechanges ahead, positivelyshape our future workplaces,and ensure they stay inbusiness.” Jonathan suggested.

The future inevitably holdschallenges and there are toughdecisions to be made abouthow to proceed while stilltaking care of our planet andour people. Contact Jonathanfor more details.

Jonathan SmithT: 0845 196 2069E: [email protected]


Over one hundred people from charities,social enterprises and voluntaryorganisations, along with academics andstudents, attended the second 3rd SectorFutures conference, held at AIBS inChelmsford on 26 June.

The keynote speaker was Nick Hurd MP,the Shadow Minister for Charities, SocialEnterprise and Volunteering. Addressing anaudience keen to hear what Conservativeplans might mean for the sector,particularly given the cuts in publicspending which any incoming governmentis likely to carry out, the minister reassuredthem that social, as well as economic,concerns, were high on his party's agenda.Even more refreshing was his admissionthat the Conservatives had, in the past,lagged behind Labour in understanding theimportance of the third sector, and thepromise that the first priority would be to'do no harm' where things were workingadequately already.

Nick Hurd's address to the mainconference came after a VIP breakfast inthe corporate suite, where guests werewelcomed by Mike Thorne, with anenthusiastic endorsement of the businessand community engagement carried out byAIBS; he added that our work at local levelwas as important to the university as ourinternational activity.

Kate Barker, Chair of Anglia Ruskin'sBoard of Governors, was a guest at thebreakfast and was also kind enough tostay and give the welcome speech at themain event, in a sweltering Auditorium.Covering everything from green shoots toletters of the alphabet, Kate's speech setthe economic context perfectly for theconference, which was subtitled'Opportunities in the Downturn'. Otherspeakers included Michele Rigby fromSocial Enterprise East of England, RalphMichell from the Association of ChiefExecutives of Voluntary Organisations,

Councillor Ann Naylor from Essex CountyCouncil, and Maureen Frewin from ESTIC,our co-hosts for the event. Sponsorsincluded SEEE, the Association ofUniversities in the East of England, andBusiness Link East.

Perhaps most encouraging of all was theinterest shown in our workshop on'University Support in the Downturn' - fromshort courses to KTPs, there is greatpotential demand in the third sector for ourservices, which 3rd Sector Futures will doall it can to meet over the next 12 monthsand beyond.

Andy BradyProgramme Manager, 3rd Sector FuturesAshcroft International Business School

T: 0845 196 6888E: [email protected]

2nd up for 3rd Sector Futures


The Thai Student Association Cambridge(TSAC) aims to promote a greaterunderstanding of Thailand, Thai Cultureand as a vehicle to enhance theexperiences of Thai Students within AngliaRuskin University.

It is an inclusive organisation and is veryhappy to welcome interested students ofall nationalities from the faculties of AngliaRuskin University.

If you would like to join us, please contact:

E: [email protected] [email protected]

Thai Student Association Cambridge (TSAC)

“Since I have been a student at theAshcroft International BusinessSchool at Anglia Ruskin University Ihave been a member of theThai Student Association Cambridge(TSAC). I usually go out with all themembers of TSAC and we have areally good time together. I havemade many friends including ourextremely nice staff members, Dr.and Mrs. Lewis. They are alwayswilling to help and take care of all ofus which I am really impressedwith. Thank you!”

Punyanuch Chansamut (MAIB),treasurer of TSAC

“Since we have decided to set upTSAC, we have learned how toorganise things and work as a group.I would like thank Mrs. Lewis whohas always given us advice anddirection in setting up this society.The experience we have gained hasnot only benefited the society, butalso helped us in the longer term aswe adapt the knowledge we learn inour life as a student here.”

Taskamol Atimethin (MAIB),Secretary of TSAC

“I am so impressed with thestudy environment in this universityand I’ve met a lot of friends fromacross of the world in the class. Weare sharing experiences and ideaswhich is a very important key ofinternational business. ARU hasdemonstrated the real globalbusiness in the class.”

Adisorn Thamrongsuttiphan (MAIB)

“I had an opportunity to participatein International Night. I madefriends from different countries suchas China, Nigeria, Middle-East, evenin Britain. Everyone is very nice andfriendly. I learnt about Britishculture and even howto make British tea!”

Suwadee Wangjariya (MAIB)

“As President of the society, I have totake responsibility for the activitiesgoing on in the society and at thesame time help and support itsmembers. None of these thingswould happen without thecooperation of all the members inthe society who have always beenkind and helpful to each other.”

Rosarin Kanijoun (MBA),President of TSAC

Naowarat Lewis and Dr Rhidian Lewis with students from Thailand on Parker’s Piece, Cambridge


MisLeadership

ContributionsRequested!

Leadership can be loosely defined asenabling followers to achieve anorganisation’s objectives and leadershave often been highly successful inthis role.

Misleadership is an action whichresults in less than optimalachievement of objectives. Leaders areoften successful in this too.

Accidental misleadership results fromleadership which is misguided,misinformed or simply missing, whiledeliberate misleadership is where theleader attempts to achieve hiddenpersonal objectives – we call thisMachiavellian leadership.

We are studying these concepts andtheir implications, including writing atextbook and chairing a special track onGlobal MisLeadership at the 10thIFSAM World Congress in Paris nextJuly, the main conference theme being‘Justice and Sustainability in the GlobalEconomy’. Since the 15th century,colonization has been an importantissue in the world, with de-colonizationbeing a key event of the 20th century.The consequences of colonization andsubsequent de-colonization have beenenormous in economic, social andpolitical terms.

We are looking for contributions of alltypes to these ideas, the followingbeing aimed at inspiring rather thanstifling thought:

Overviews of Global Leadership: Scope,boundaries, frameworks, aspects andelements including but not limited tomission, paradigms, global approachand problem solving practice;

History of (Mis)Leadership: Historicaldevelopment of both leadership andmisleadership: Roles of royal dynasties,religions, politics, nations, corporationsand other power groups; Examinationof the foundations, attitudes andassumptions upon which currentbusiness and social paradigms werebuilt;

Linkages between global leadership /misleadership and justice /sustainability: Development of empiresand colonization, including the roles ofheads of state, religions, internationalcorporations and groups of nations;

Role of Education, particularly businesseducation, in the global economy:Moving toward a new businessparadigm; Proposals for newfoundations, attitudes, vision andvalues relevant to the global economy;Improving problem solving practice;

Justice and Sustainability in theWorkplace: The need for leaders tocreate resonance in the workplace byrecognising all the needs of theirworkers, including spiritual (seen asincluding such aspects as caring,sharing, connectedness, motivation andmorale, with negative spirituality beinggreed, exploitation, injustice andprejudice. This view of spirituality canbe, but is not necessarily related to, aspecific (or any) religion);

Case Studies examining specificexamples of leadership / misleadership:Actions and reactions of industries,governments and pressure groups;Sectors of the current global economyfrom the perspective of globalleadership: Fair trade and fairtreatment; Regions, industries andother sector analysis; Roles of business,governments, religions and otherstakeholders in moving towards highquality global leadership. If this is ofinterest, get in touch. If it isn’t, go backto sleep!

John RaymentT: 0845 196 6859E: [email protected]

Jonathan SmithT: 0845 196 2069E: [email protected]

Documents

Ashcroft Staff Newsletter