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Message from the President
Professor Colette Henry
Dear ISBE Members
I hope you are reading this edition of Enterprising Matters in good health, good spirits and hopeful that warm spring weather is well on its way.
Of course, it’s good to hear that the recession is officially over, with economists finally being able to report growth (albeit small) in the last quarter of 2009. However, the business closures and job losses left in its wake have had severe consequences for many, with further downsizing and budget cuts planned across all sectors of the economy. This raises concerns about future job opportunities and, in some respects, shifts the focus back on the need to equip graduates with appropriate and employable skills. Thus, it is timely that this issue of Enterprise Matters, edited by our VP for Education, Professor David Rae, takes a critical look at enterprise education.
We know that enterprise education is not a static phenomenon – it is constantly changing, being informed by research, new pedagogical models and educators’ experiences of what actually works in practice. I’m sure we can all recall a time when we had to struggle to have enterprise recognised as a ‘proper module’ even on business and management courses; now, enterprise in its various forms is taught widely across several discipline areas. I have no doubt that interest in teaching enterprise will continue to grow, as the need for all students and graduates – regardless of their particular discipline area - to become ‘enterprise aware’ is fully recognised. So, it would seem that enterprise educators will be well and truly in demand for the foreseeable future.
David has selected a range of interesting and, indeed, controversial pieces for this edition, and I’m sure they will prompt exciting new debates amongst our readers. Remember, ISBE is really keen to hear your views, so please do get in touch and share your reactions to the pieces you read here.
Sadly, this will be my last time writing for Enterprising Matters as President. It has certainly been a fantastic two years, and I am truly grateful to Liz and Chris, our executive team and board, our members and the wider ISBE community for the incredible support that has been shown to me. I am particularly indebted to our Deputy President, Dr. Nigel Lockett, and our VP for Research, Professor Susan Marlow, whose support throughout my time as President has been invaluable.
I am privileged to have had an opportunity to work with such fantastic people; together, we have begun to move ISBE into a new era where we work with and for our members, and are fully responsible for everything we do. In the past two years, with the support of our board, we have relocated our office to London and created a highly professional, in-house business development team. Our new conference model (still a work in progress, but we’re getting there!) is now a truly collaborative initiative, directly informed by our members. We have significantly boosted our publication opportunities, not just through the conference, but also though the development of the new ISBE-Emerald Book Series (with other exciting publishing partnerships in development – watch this space!). Finally, we have established an important research fund for our members through the creation of RAKE.
So, as I prepare to hand over to a new President in May, I leave you to peruse this edition of Enterprising Matters and look forward to seeing you in London for our 2010 Conference. Thank you again for all your support.
Colette
Professor Colette Henry – President, ISBE
Norbrook Professor of Business & Enterprise, Royal Veterinary College