The keynote speaker of the event was IMTA faculty member Prof. J. B. Kassarjian, professor of Leadership at Babson College, USA, and professor emeritus of IMD-Lausanne, Switzerland, who provided a case-based master class on "Leading Change in Management Schools: The Transformation of BSL (Lausanne) and Its Lessons". This session provided a general frame for further discussion, while J. B. Kassarjian’s passion for, and devotion to, participants’ learning introduced the characteristic IMTA spirit that all IMTA-related events radiate with.
Natalia Makaeva, IPM – Minsk (IMTA 2012 alumna) compared the experience that her institution gained through the AMBA program accreditation and the CEEMAN IQA institutional accreditation. Teimuraz Vashakhmadze (IMTA 2008 alumnus from IBS-Moscow) shared his institution’s experience with EPAS, while providing an update on the current status and future plans of the forthcoming Russian national accreditation. Both presentations emphasized two main benefits from the accreditation processes: continuous self-improvement and better marketing positioning.
IMTA Managing Director Milenko Gudic talked about faculty development as another powerful instrument for institutional development. In this respect, he particularly emphasized the IMTA program, which is structured around the multiple roles of faculty, and - in addition to teaching, research, and consultancy - includes an institution-building component.
The conference also included a vivid exchange of views and ideas related to the challenging perspectives on the future of business education. The inputs were provided by Milenko Gudic, Marat Atnashev, EVRAZ Holding, Ekaterina Karmak, Co-organizer of the RABE and IBS joint initiative "Foresight on Business Education 2012", and Elisaveta Kashirina, Techclouds.net, .
An integral part of the event was a session on 23 September, in which Silviu Ursu, IMTA 2007 alumnus from the A.I. Cuza University of Iasi, Romania, gave a lecture on finance for the postgraduate students of the IBS-Moscow and IMTA peers.