The Management School welcomed MP Kim Johnson on Monday 30 June, for an insightful visit focusing on how the School supports young people and businesses.
The visit started with a meeting with Dean, Professor Julia Balogun, covering some of the wider context relating to the Management School, the University and the Higher Education sector.
Professor Balogun outlined some of the opportunities and challenges faced in teaching around 5,000 students, as well as the School’s diverse research themes.
Kim learned about the work the School does to support its students, particularly with employability and entrepreneurship, as well as enabling access to information and experiences for schools and under-represented groups.
Professor Balogun shared some of the School’s recent rankings successes, which is helping to attract applicants and ensure the recent Open Days were well attended.
Also discussed was the School’s connections to industry and how those links help shape teaching and research.
Kim was interested in global links at the University level, including the recent announcement of a new campus in Bengaluru, as well as the university’s partnership with XJTLU in China.
Kim then met with Management School colleagues and business leaders who had completed the Help to Grow: Management programme.
The roundtable discussion began with an overview of the programme background and structure by Dr Zeinab Djebali and Iona Thomson, followed by examples and feedback from programme Alumni, including Damian Meyers at Clan Contracting, Hazel Walker at Glenville Walker, and Dr Yolla McCoy at Feedwater.
Each shared their own experiences of the programme and the positive impact it had had on their businesses, including diversification, talent attraction and focus on leadership. All mentioned the value of the peer network in sharing challenges and possible solutions early.
Hazel Kennedy, External Engagement Manager, shared some results from research undertaken by the Chartered Association of Business Schools on the value that business school activity brings to business and the higher education sector.
Colleagues were then able to share other examples of support, such as internships and student projects, to support business talent pipelines and resources.
Damian reported that the quality of the two interns he had secured from the University led him to offer them both permanent roles in his business after just one week.
Professor Carl Gavin and Iona Thomson outlined examples of where they have designed programmes to support individual businesses with bespoke training and development.
Details of our Knowledge Transfer Partnerships were also shared, and how this funding and support are positively impacting those businesses.
Hazel Kennedy said, “It was a pleasure to welcome Kim into the School and share some of the activities and opportunities we have, which support local businesses and keep talented young people in the Liverpool City Region.”
“Kim was also able to learn how our programmes are being continually refined and new courses are being launched to be relevant and future-ready.”
“Kim shared some of the context around the City Region, the challenges and aspirations, and where some of the gaps were: all themes we are helping to address at the Management School.”