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IMTA 2009 - a miracle "stone soup"
IMTA 2009 took place on 7-19 June, with 39 participants from 20 institutions in 14 countries (Albania, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, UK, and Ukraine).
As usual the program was structured in two-week format that covers both general and discipline-specific aspects of management education.
The case method, taught by Prof Joe Pons, was as always a backbone of the Week 1 - the general part of the program, upon which disciplinary tracks were built in the Week 2. Prof Arshad Ahmad provided inputs related to teaching philosophy and strategy, as well as on assessing learning outputs. The issues related to case research, case writing, course design and integration of learning materials were presented by Prof JB Kassarjian. Prof Jim Ellet summarized different learning components and skill development in a most interesting and inspirational input related to the multiple role of faculty, including their participation in institution-building activities at business schools. Participants’ teamwork provided an opportunity for them to integrate and present what they have learned during the first week of the program and receive feedback from their peers and IMTA faculty. Week 1 ended with a discussion on what faculty business schools are looking for and how to achieve leadership in teaching.
The evaluation of Week 1 indicated that the program was itself an example of the “stone soup” metaphor, which has become one of the features of the IMTA program, and its ability to inspire all the participants to contribute with their own knowledge, talents and skills, values, and attitudes, as well as multidisciplinary and multicultural backgrounds to a joint learning process that results in a wonderful “stone soup” of new insights and discoveries.
Week 2 was structured into four management disciplines. In each of them the participants experienced fascinating learning. In addition each discipline was discussed in plenary session in order to enable learning from each other. Here are some comments on the respective learning outcomes.
Finance track run by Prof Jim Ellert:
It was really a great track in IMTA because first the professor was very motivated and we have learned a lot. I am sure when I go back to my country I will change absolutely everything because Jim showed us our advantages and disadvantages. I am fully satisfied with IMTA and the Finance Track. I would like to come again to IMTA in 2010
Very interesting with a lot of useful links to practice.
Marketing track run by Prof Joe Pons:
This was excellent week with Prof Joe Pons. He inspired us, gave us brilliant knowledge, and a practical approach. He prepared great case studies and has led us through marketing thoughts. I am impressed with his teaching! Thank you all for beautiful days in Bled
A very exciting story. What’s interesting - I realized that Joe was saying something about what I have been thinking before
Strategy track run by Prof Krzysztof Obloj:
The atmosphere was so friendly and our working frame was so useful that now I feel a high inspiration for gaining excellence in strategy management in the future, I want to take this atmosphere back home with me and bring it into my class and take care of my students as I have experienced how our professor takes care of us. Prof Obloj has completely changed my thinking
Stretching our minds on the strategy subject was excellently achieved.
Leadership and Change Management track run by Prof JB Kassarjian:
JB led us to our new horizons
I liked the atmosphere in the class very much, it was friendly, creative, and very positive
It’s wonderful when our thinking is always changing as we know how to lead thoughts and feelings in the right direction
Finally, IMTA disciplinary faculty provided very personal views on the challenges and temptations of the profession, which has traditionally been one of the highlights of the whole program.
In the overall evaluation of the program, IMTA 2009 participants particularly emphasized the usefulness of the program, their learning, and what they will do differently after coming back home to their respective institutions.
On the usefulness of the program:
The IMTA program is brilliant. I am fulfilled and impressed. All knowledge I will apply in my classes
Gained many insights. Learned a lot from peers and informal interactions with faculty
Definitely, I am going to go one step up!
Absolutely [useful] and in many ways. The team (teachers and support) was highly professional and created a stage for rich learning experience
On the learning outcomes:
I learned about new teaching methods, I discovered new horizons in my profession
How to motivate students, how to lead inspirational class, how to be more interactive
How to answer questions and more important thing ‡ how to formulate questions
I have learned how to care for my students, how to teach from my heart and soul. And of course I have learned many things that I can use in my practice of teaching management. I was deeply involved in the process of solving and teaching cases
New vision of leadership. New way to conduct and organize my research
New teaching philosophy, approaches, patterns of thinking and acting in my profession, human modules of teaching, many good ideas from colleagues’ experience
On what would change after going back home to their own institutions:
Think from other points of view
I have changed my approach to case teaching. I’m much more experienced in how to involve people into discussion, to ask questions and make conclusions
The structure of my course will be changed to use cases in my teaching
My responsibility for my students and not only for my course. I will change my approach to course design and will think how to relate my course to other courses to help students to build a firm starting point to their development and career
[We will] try to create an IMTA Alumni Working Task Force in my faculty in order to create a multiplier effect of our learning
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