Participants from 22 institutions and 12 countries: Austria, Belarus, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine and United Kingdom, came to learn from experienced international educators and deans, as well as to exchange experience and best practices related to the design, promotion and delivery of educational programs in universities and business schools.
As CEEMAN, an association for management development in dynamic societies has been strengthening links with business schools in Africa in the recent years, this year the representation of participants from South Africa was especially prominent. PMS was joined by eight representatives of the following management development institutions from South Africa: Gordon Institute of Business Science (Johannesburg), University of Stellenbosch Business School (Bellville, Cape Town), MANCOSA – Management College of South Africa and REGENT Business School (both from Durban), African Association of Business Schools (Johannesburg).
Run by faculty from IEDC-Bled School of Management (Slovenia), Bentley University (USA), Amsterdam University (the Netherlands), and MIB School of Management (Italy), the Program Management Seminar deals with a number of important topics, including understanding target markets, delivering outstanding customer service, managing the performance of program staff, dealing with participants and faculty, alumni relations, and other. It also contributes to understanding how to effectively respond to continuously changing customer needs while simultaneously taking care of institution’s own needs.
Mike Page, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs, Bentley University, talked, among other things, about how to increase loyalty from alumni.
He advised: “Start early. Show current students the benefits of alumni connections, demonstrate care and influence that alumni have. Be sure that you provide tangible contact between alumni community and students. It is also wise to organize student focused (business) events like case competitions.”
Niek Brunsveld, Senior Policy Advisor Research & Innovation, University of Amsterdam, talked about communication and how to lead with influence. He also gave some lessons how to improve the quality of relationships and engaging in frank, open and authentic conversations.d: “Start early. Show current students the benefits of alumni connections, demonstrate care and influence that alumni have. Be sure that you provide tangible contact between alumni community and students. It is also wise to organize student focused (business) events like case competitions.”
Carolina Meucci, Head of Marketing and Communications Office at MIB School of Management (Italy) shared her institution’s experience and useful tips in regards of marketing and sales of educational programs.
Danica Purg, President of IEDC-Bled School of Management and CEEMAN, led a lively discussion about the role of a program manager and some of the ethical challenges they face. She stressed: “Program managers play many roles: representative, ambassador, quality control manager and customer complaints manager of the institution.” She also gave a speech about time management, quoting Peter Drucker: “Time is the scarcest resource and unless it is managed, nothing else can be managed.”
Ian Sutherland, Deputy Dean for Research and Director of PhD Studies at IEDC, has set the tone for the whole seminar with an interactive session on how to create an impactful learning environment, while Nenad Filipović, Academic Director of IEDC, joined the discussion about the role of a program manager.
Participants say:
“A learning journey that elevates your personal development”
Martin Tudge, Leeds University Business School, UK
“I got much more than I expected and am very grateful to the program participants and professors for insights and feedback”
Maria Daletskaya, Graduate School of Management, St. Petersburg State University, Russia
“I had one of the most phenomenal experiences! We were immersed into the culture and were given royal treatment. Thank you so much.”
Shirlene Smits, Gordon Institution of Business Science, South Africa
“It’s a wonderful interactive program where you get to talk to people who experience the same (challenges) day by day as you – great learning experience.”
Anne Czambor, ESMT-European School of Management and Technology, Germany
Specifically designed for program managers, directors, and administrators, the Program Management Seminar was attended by 320 program managers, directors, and coordinators from more than 100 business schools and universities in 40 countries since 2005. Learn more at www.ceeman.org/pms.
