ABS Staff Induction Professor Nigel Driffield ~ (Interim) Executive Dean

My position Formally I am the interim Dean of ABS, following the retirement of the previous dean. I took over on 1 st September Professor of International Business since Head of Economics and Strategy Group for 4 years.

Long Term The VC is however overseeing the search for a high profile, high quality candidate to take over ASAP. My position, I am the Dean until someone tells me I am not – so I am not “holding the fort” or “business as usual”, but I am doing the job as fully as possible. To be blunt ABS is too important to AU for anything else.

To provide inspirational and life-long learning for students, executives and alumni so that they in turn offer effective and responsible leadership in their various organisations, communities and nations To undertake rigorous research that answers the major questions facing business leaders, policy makers and practitioners nationally and internationally To develop effective organizations, communities and economies in our region and extend this influence nationally and internationally To communicate our knowledge and understanding widely and effectively to our communities, nationally and internationally, especially the scientific and business communities To build and sustain a work community of excellent students and staff, working in a supportive and motivating team-based environment that aims to be a model of the organisational processes and cultures we advocate ABS Mission

ABS Vision To be ranked consistently among the top 50 business schools in the world To be at the forefront of world class research and the best business school in Europe for employability and global mobility To be the best business school in the UK to work and study at, together creating an inspirational global learning community

Strategic Objectives Provide an excellent student learning experience Continue to improve performance in REF Develop the international mindset needed to deliver top 50 Business School ambition Retain accreditations Recruit student numbers to plan and to budget Improve position in most important rankings (NSS, FT, THE, Economist, Guardian)

Strategic Objectives continued Recruit, develop and retain excellent staff Maintain staff morale and Aston culture Communicate key competitive features and branding

Things you probably already know We are in the <1% of business schools with triple accreditation (AACSB here in February 2013) We are very proud of our record on employability We have a reputation for openness, fairness and integrity We bucked the trend this year on admissions. We are fine with UKBA !!

Things which you will hear again (with no apology!) UG Students are now paying a headline figure of 9K a year (though the VC has been very clever in getting our average down to under 7.5K). Thus the student experience is ever more important (and is EVERYONES responsibility). This does not mean spoon feeding, but it does mean ensuring we do what we say we will do, and doing it well.

Research Outputs matter, but income also matters. We cannot cross- subsidise our research from UG – UG fees pay for UG things. So depending on your level, we all need to think about research income. Equally, THE REF is coming, and we have to balance Research and teaching at a school level.

Principles of Responsible Management Education Purpose Values Method Research Partnership Dialogue “Our own organisational practices should serve as examples of the values and attitudes we convey to our students”

Finally The strategy of ABS is owned by all of us. We all shape the future of ABS – it is US who decide where a subject is going, where we could expect (and into what). All of the successful innovations in terms of new directions have come from the groups – so please be part of it. If you have a great idea, please share it!