Category Archives: Curriculum

Polar Bears International Launches Free Online Programming For Elementary and Secondary Students – Available to People of All Ages

Hunkering Down at Home During COVID-19? Learn About the Arctic, Northern Lights and the Lives of Polar Bears Through Live Webcasts with Scientists, Lesson Plans Utilizing Real World Research, and More.

CHURCHILL, CANADA, 2020-Apr-2 — /EPR Education News/ — Polar Bears International, the only nonprofit organization
dedicated solely to wild polar bears and their sea ice home, is offering free teaching and learning materials, live chats with scientists, webcasts showcasing  the Arctic, and other resources for people to learn from home during the month of April and beyond. PBI hopes the chance to explore the top of the world and learn from polar bear experts adds value to people’s days and serves as an ongoing source of inspiration.

PBI is launching a curriculum, created by teachers and scientists, on a range of topics that support national literacy standards and learning outcomes for elementary and secondary students. The program includes access to scientists through live chats and webcasts as well as suggested videos, projects, reading materials and even a polar bear tracker for each week in April. Additionally, people can participate in the ongoing Beluga Bits Citizen Science Project, classifying screenshots from the Beluga Whale Live Cam,
which broadcasts the Hudson Bay’s beluga whales live every summer via a partnership between PBI and explore.org. And every night, PBI invites people to watch the Northern Lights Live Cam, presented by PBI, explore.org, and the Churchill Northern Studies Centre — while best Aurora Borealis viewing hours run through March, viewers can still catch glimpses of the dancing lights and increasingly may see beautiful sunsets and migratory birds such as the Gyrfalcon paying a visit to the camera.

“We want to thank everyone for practicing social distancing and staying home right now,” says Krista Wright, executive director at Polar Bears International, “We believe it’s important to unite from afar, and we want to do what we can to support our community during this time. We’re excited to debut resources that are educational and engaging and to continue building a community invested in polar bears and the Arctic.”

The curriculum for April outlines enrichment and educational activities, including special events that will be announced for Earth Day. The schedule is below and will continue to be updated here:
https://polarbearsinternational.org/news/article-polar-bears-international/spring-tundra-connections/

The April program is designed for students, their families and teachers to take a virtual trip to the Arctic to learn more about polar bears and the icy wilderness they call home through weekly programs, but can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages and interests. Programs for April include:

Week of March 30th – April 3rd: Emerging from the Den! A Special Time of Year for Moms and Cubs 

– Recommended Curriculum: Polar Bear Tracker

Events:
–    On-demand Webcast (elementary): Back to Polar Bear Basics
–    On-demand Webcast (secondary): Researching Moms & Cubs

Week of April 6th – 10th: Arctic Food Web Top to Bottom

–    Recommended Curriculum: Arctic Biodiversity

Events:
–    On-Demand Webcast (elementary): At the Top of the World with Polar Bears
–    On-Demand Webcast (secondary): Life in the Arctic Top to Bottom
–    Live Webcast – Tuesday, April 7 – 12:00 CT: Arctic Food Web Top to Bottom

The Arctic ecosystem is oh-so-cool. Find out about how things are connected from the top predator, the polar bear, all the way down to the life-supporting sea ice. Learn why keeping this region healthy matters to polar bears and people, too.

Add this event to your calendar

–    Live Chat: Thursday, April 9th – 12:00 CT: Why Sea Ice is “Cool”

Why is sea ice important to the Arctic ecosystem? It’s much more than just salty frozen water! Learn more about why the frozen ocean is “cool.”

Add this event to your calendar


Week of April 13th – 17th: Virtual Field Trip

–   Curriculum: Street View and Polar Bears

Events:
–   On-Demand Webcast Archive (elementary): Field Trip to the Churchill Northern Studies Center
–   On-Demand Webcast Archive (secondary): STEM on the Tundra – Cool Jobs!
–   Live Webcast – Tuesday, April 14th – 12:00 CT:: Virtual Field Trip to Churchill! The Polar Bear Capital of the World

Join us on an adventure to Churchill! How different is it from your
hometown? What is it like to live with polar bears and why there are so many polar bears in Churchill? What other animals call Churchill home?

Add this event to your calendar

–   Live Chat – Thursday, April 16th – 12:00 CT: Our favorite nature moments on the Subarctic Tundra

The Subarctic tundra near Churchill is a special place. Join our team to view the vast expanse and hear about our favorite moments in this amazing ecosystem and the animals that call it home.

Add this event to your calendar


Week of April 20th – 24th: All About Polar Bears

–   Curriculum: Top of the World

Events:
–   On-Demand Webcast Archive (elementary): Answering Your Questions from Around the World
–   On-Demand Webcast Archive (secondary): Connecting Climate Change in Your Backyard
–   Live Webcast – Tuesday, April 21st, 1200 CT: All About Polar Bears

Fur, teeth, claws, and fat- that’s what polar bears are made of. Join Polar Bears International to learn more about our favorite big white bear, its cubs, and the sea ice they call home.

Add this event to your calendar

–   Wednesday, April 22nd, TBD: Special Earth Day Celebration
–   Live Chat – Thursday, April 24th, 12:00 CT: Live Chat: What do polar bears smell like? …and more fun facts!

What does a polar bear smell like? How far away can a polar bear smell a seal? Who has better hearing: a polar bear or your family dog? Can a polar bear see the Northern Lights? Learn about how a polar bear’s amazing senses help them find food and survive the arctic winters!

Add this event to your calendar

About Polar Bears International

Polar Bears International’s mission is to conserve polar bears and the sea ice they depend on. Through media, science, and advocacy, we work to inspire people to care about the Arctic, the threats to its future, and the connection between this remote region and our global climate. PBI is the only nonprofit organization dedicated solely to wild polar bears and Arctic sea ice, and our staff includes scientists who study wild polar bears. The organization is a recognized leader in polar bear conservation. For more
information, visit www.polarbearsinternational.org.

Media Contacts

Annie Edwards — annie@fabricmedia.net
Melissa Hourigan — melissa@fabricmedia.net — 720-608-1919

From paper textbooks to electronic scripts of lessons: the rapid path of Russian education to high technologies

MOSCOW, Russia, 2019-May-24 — /EPR  EDUCATION NEWS/ —  Any changes take time, and education reform all the more. This is a long and painstaking process with a lot of pitfalls. We are telling how the Moscow Department of Education managed to transform the educational system beyond recognition in a few years, turning it into one of the exemplary world models.

Just a few years ago, the backpack of an ordinary Russian school student was not easy to pick up — textbooks and additional materials in all subjects, exercise books, writing materials, and sports uniforms and shoes. Parents of pupils even in elementary school were perplexed how their children carry it to school every day.

Today the backpack of the Moscow school student has become twice as light. The fact is that now it’s not necessary for children to carry all paper textbooks with them. It is enough to have a tablet with you: all the training materials necessary for the lessons are digitized, stored in the cloud storage of the Moscow Electronic School and are always ready for use. The same is true of additional literature, works of art, and even tests: instead of leaflets or notebooks “for controls,” there are interactive tests on a tablet or in a laptop. In the same tablet or even on the phone, students can always see the lesson schedule, find out about new grades, or even do their homework.

But the most important thing that greatly facilitates the work of teachers is ready-made electronic scripts for lessons in all subjects. Work on creating a database of such multimedia scenarios has been going on for several years, since the launch of the MES program – the Moscow Electronic School. To date, the arsenal of Moscow teachers has more than 33,000 approved scenarios developed by professionals. These scenarios are in the electronic library of educational materials, and every Moscow teacher has access to it. Any teacher registered in the system can use these materials absolutely free of charge – it makes preparing for a lesson easier and more convenient. In this library you can find hundreds more textbooks prepared by other teachers, tens of thousands of comprehensive educational applications and even prototype laboratories on a number of subjects. So far, there are no analogues to such a resource anywhere in the world.

The work of Moscow teachers has also become much easier. First, all school teachers are provided with laptops or desktops. Each class has an interactive whiteboard and there are printers – if one of the students doesn’t have a tablet or laptop with him, all materials necessary for the lesson can be printed at any time.

Options such as an electronic diary and an electronic journal allow teachers to design a curriculum using various curricula, as well as create a class schedule, create their own author assignments, or use ready-made tests from an electronic library.

In general, thanks to the emergence of the Moscow e-school, parents, students and teachers received a unique system for all participants of the educational process. It is now convenient for teachers to communicate directly with parents of students through an electronic diary, so even parent meetings are now much faster and more fruitful. Parents from any device can always familiarize themselves with the success of the children, check what is set and warn the teacher that the child will miss classes on a given day.

School classes are another theme we want to dwell on. We have already said that all classes are equipped with interactive whiteboards – touch screen panels, which the teacher can use as traditional school blackboards, or show students selected photo and video materials, and even remotely visit the city’s museums! But this is not limited to this. Now classes of Moscow schools are becoming high-tech centers, workshops and laboratories. The project of introducing specialized and preprofessional classes has been implemented in the capital of Russia since 2015. Now students in Moscow schools can study in medical, engineering, natural science classes, fully immersed in the atmosphere of the profession already in grades 8-9.

All that we have listed – only the most impressive facts. In fact, the process is much broader and more interesting. The global goal of this Russian educational reform is to create a modern digital educational environment capable of quickly adapting to the ever-changing realities of life, ready for the emergence of new professions and specialties. You can learn more about the Moscow education reform at Bett Educar in Brazil. Virtual excursions in Moscow specialized classes and master classes devoted to the Moscow Electronic School project are waiting for visitors.

International Moscow Forum “City of Education” is one of the most significant events in the world of metropolitan education. The main objective of the forum is the exchange of experience in the development of various stages of the educational process, as well as the opportunity to demonstrate the latest educational technologies, resources and equipment. With all the latest innovations and advanced educational technologies will be available at the next forum “City of Education”, which will be held in Moscow from August 29 to September 1, 2019.

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If Your Child Is Ready To Start Learning To Read, Then Download The Smart4Kids App Today!

Today, Smart4Kids LLC announced the release of its new app Smart4Kids in English, an interactive learn-to-read educational game, based on a 36 steps curriculum on the Apple iTunes store.

Smart4Kids provides a structured and engaging learning experience for children ready to learn how to read.

The scientific, research-based reading materials and activities are modeled after the “Big Five” focus areas recommended by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: phonemic awareness, systematic phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Children are challenged to learn sounds and recognize new words as they play interactive games. The Smart4Kids app contains four key components: learn, play interactive games, read stories and follow progression.

Smart4Kids enables the child to build his or her reading confidence through a progression of 36 units entailing the complete reading curriculum of a 1st grader.

Each one of the 36 units includes:
– The lesson taught
– 3 games to practice the lesson
– 1 mini-story to review the lesson

The games include activities such as word completion, word sorting, word matching, sound matching, memory tests and more. In each game, your child will win a point for each correct answer made. While the general approach is based on phonics, each unit also contains a sight word game, which are words learned primarily by sight recognition.  The sight words are also reviewed in the mini story to help your child to build vocabulary.

A certain number of points is required for the skill to be considered mastered, then your child wins an award and should move on to the next unit.

Smart4Kids was designed specifically with parents and teachers in mind.  Its curriculum is easy for you to use along side of your child.  Parents and teachers will find the interactive learning games to be a great complement to traditional classroom and home-based reading instruction. By following a standard phonics-based curriculum, you will be able to direct the child to practice within the application a specific sound that he is learning.

The App will also take the child through adventures across the globe. In six beautifully illustrated stories an international hero is introduced from a new continent where your child can imagine what it might be like to live in a different culture.  The settings for the learn-to-read challenges are taken from each of these six stories, and the international heroes are the companions of the young reader through his or her learning process.

Smart4Kids can be downloaded for free, including already 6 units. Additional units can be acquired for the price of $0.99 each, $2.99 for 6 units, or $9.99 for the complete 36 units.

Features:

•  The app follows a progression of skills, enabling your child to progress at his own pace.
•  The app can be used by up to 5 different users and track their individual progress.
•  The app uses 18 types of activities, carefully chosen according to the type of phonics being taught.
•  Voice instruction and feedback
•  Mini-stories highlight words as the narrator reads so your child can follow along
•  No third party advertising
•  No external link to social network site
•  Bundle and educational special rate

More information about Smart4Kids including the detailed curriculum is available atwww.app.smart4kids.com

Smart4Kids LLC is committed to promoting literacy through digital learning applications.

By purchasing this app, you support worldwide literacy by helping us develop our reading application in other languages including the developing nations.

Via EPR Network
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PAM Launch Make-up Courses in London

Precious About Make-up has launched a new series of make-up artistry courses and workshops in London for aspiring make-up artists and those who want to brush up on their skills.

The make-up studio courses are designed for amateur and professional make-up artists, as well as keen enthusiasts who want to diversify their skillset and learn from professionals who work in the industry. PAM has recruited some of the country’s finest make-up artists and experts in various fields to teach attendees about industry-standard techniques.

Teachers at the PAM studio are working make-up artists and expert in their fields, able to offer the top industry tips. The sessions are all focused on different elements of make-up artistry, including creating wounds and swells, making people look older with ageing make-up effects, fashion make-up for photography, and bridal make-up artistry.

Vicky Voller, Prosthetics Designer on BBC TV series Holby City is presenting a“Bloody Amazing Casualty Course” on 15th October 2012 which will teach attendees about working with silicone and blood effects, including colour matching skin, measuring materials and constructing blood rigs, veins, and muscle to create realistic injury effects.

Louise Young has been a professional makeup artist for over 30 years, working in film, fashion, TV, theatre and special effects. She’s presenting an intensive 5 day course in fashion and photographic make-up on 5th November 2012. Ideal for those who wish to embark on a career in fashion, photographic or bridal make-up, this course covers basic business and kit requirements as well as key design techniques, editorial, catwalk and period looks.

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FCA Reports Educational Success For Care Leaver

FCA has announced a care leaver from Cwmavon has secured a place at university to study event management.

Zoey Morgan (18) who has been in care for the past five years with Foster Care Associates (FCA), was thrilled to receive her A-level results last month, confirming her place at Glamorgan University. Zoey has all the backing from FCA as well as her committed foster carer, Julia Cox who has supported the youngster throughout her teenage life.

Zoey’s triumph at A-level included a pass in the Welsh Baccalaureate as well as English Literature, English Language and Health & Social Care. It follows her GCSE success where she attained four B grades and two C grades. A former pupil at St Joseph’s 6th form centre in Port Talbot, Zoey now has her sights firmly set on fulfilling her ambition to become a wedding planner.

Commenting Zoey said: “I am so thrilled to be going to Uni and can’t wait to start. This marks a new and exciting chapter in my life.

“I will really miss my carer Julia who has been my rock, supporting and encouraging me with my studies.”

Zoey came into care with FCA at the age of 13 and has flourished with the help of her carer Julia. As a single carer, Julia has demonstrated unswerving commitment to the youngster with compassion and understanding. Stability in a family setting has been the backbone to success.

Education liaison officer at FCA Cymru, Darren Sykes Wilks added: “At FCA our focus is about meeting the individual needs of every child or young person we look after.

“In Zoey’s case, FCA was able to offer private tuition to support her school studies. We are hugely proud of Zoey and her achievements. She has worked incredibly hard and we wish her the very best of luck as she continues on her journey through life. Thanks to the dedication from foster carer Julie, this achievement is certainly worth celebrating.”

FCA Cymru is a leading independent foster care agency in Wales. With regional headquarters in Swansea, the organisation works in partnership with local authorities, delivering quality care in a family setting for vulnerable youngsters who are cared for by the agency’s 200 foster families across the whole of Wales.

Those who think they could make a difference to the life of a young person through fostering can call FCA Cymru on 0800 023 4561 or visit www.iwanttofoster.com.

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Wexford University Now Accepting Applications for January Classes in Fitness, Nutrition and Sport Psychology for U.S. and International Students

U.S. and international students who want to get an early start on their New Year’s resolutions can now register for online classes in health, fitness, nutrition, exercise and sports psychology at Wexford University; winter session online college classes begin Jan. 7, 2013. The 100 percent online university offers associate through doctoral programs with self-directed learning and flexible scheduling.

In addition, foreign students can complete international degree programs with an easy online credit transfer process, and all military personnel can enjoy a 15 percent discount on their health, fitness and wellness education through Wexford University online. Likewise, both U.S. and international students receive a 10 percent education when tuition is paid in full up front.

Online registration for degrees in fitness training, health and fitness, nutrition and sports psychology is now available at http://wexford.edu/. Innovative online classes run through mid-March, and spring, summer and fall online college sessions are also available in 2013.

“Starting out the year with a flexible online education is a great way to launch both the year and a career in health and wellness,” said Jack Bauerle, Chancellor of Wexford University. “Wexford’s real-world education can help people find lucrative careers in the growing health and fitness field, and our students can enjoy a convenient, affordable, self-paced education process.”

Wexford University’s online degree programs include the following options: associate of arts degree in Fitness Training, bachelor of science degree in Health and Fitness, master of science degree in Nutrition and Exercise, master of arts in Applied Sports Psychology and a doctorate degree in Applied Sports Psychology.

Interested students can complete an online application at http://wexford.edu/.

Wexford University is dedicated to providing world-class education through cutting-edge technology, offering direct application degree programs in an accelerated format with 100 percent online learning to save time and money. Programs include an associate of arts degree in Fitness Training, bachelor’s degree in Health and Fitness, master’s degree in Nutrition and Exercise as well as master’s degree and doctorate degree in Applied Sport
Psychology. Wexford University is the higher education division of NESTA (National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association).

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New Service Targets Colleges And Universities In Offering Resume Assistance To Students

Tim Solinger of Stevens Point, Wis., has launched College Resume Services to offer a resource for higher education institutions that as a result of looming budgetary cutbacks, already implemented cuts or other factors are seeking outside assistance to help their students with resume preparation and related job search needs.

“College Resume Services is able to seamlessly augment the capabilities of career services departments or to assist institutions that have relatively few resources in this area,” Solinger says. “We are able to tailor our services to the needs of any higher education institution including community and two-year colleges, technical colleges, and trade schools.”

College Resume Services offers students personalized assistance through seminars, workshops and one-on-one critiques. It is also able to work with higher education institutions in developing online tools to support students with creating their own resumes.

Solinger adds that College Resume Services is experienced in working with both traditional and non-traditional students, including those who are making significant career changes or who are moving from long-standing industries to new and emerging fields.

College Resume Services is a division of Great Impressions Resume & Career Services, LLC, which Solinger also owns and operates.

Solinger is a certified professional resume writer and is a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

More information is available by contacting College Resume Services at (715) 570-2749 or at www.greatimpressionsresume.com/crs

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Howard University Online Executive MBA Launches New Website

Howard University’s School of Business is excited to announce the launch of its new website for the Online Executive MBA: executivemba.howard.edu. The site features robust content about this distinguished degree, including information about admission requirements, online learning, frequently asked questions about earning an Executive MBA, Howard University’s legacy and tradition, and tuition and financial aid.

The Howard University Online Executive MBA combines Howard’s heritage with the prestige of the School of Business. The convenient online Howard Executive MBA is designed to provide accessible management education to those who work full-time but also have the desire and drive to obtain an executive graduate degree. The program provides a comprehensive understanding of the industry and prepares individuals to strategically think and act from the perspective of senior leadership.

Bookmark the website and check back for periodic updates on networking opportunities, current student profiles, informational videos and program
announcements.

Interested in speaking with an enrollment advisor now about this program? Contact us today at 1-877- 398-3053.

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Inaugural Online Executive MBA Class Begins at Howard University

Howard University announces the start of the inaugural class for its new online degree – the online Executive MBA program. The inaugural class which includes executives and administrators started formal academic training this week after students completed an online orientation session in December. Students in the program will gain a comprehensive understanding of business, and learn to strategically think and act from the perspective of senior leadership.

Drawing upon the legacy of one of America’s top business schools and the nation’s preeminent historically black college, this distinguished program equips mid-career professionals and emerging leaders with the skills and perspective to lead in global business.

“Emerging business leaders from across the nation will attend their first class online as students of Howard University this week,” said Barron H. Harvey, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Business. “We are excited to be the catalyst for this historic milestone at the University.

Consisting of 42 credit hours, the online Executive MBA program is designed to be completed in about 18 months . The online format is designed to deliver a robust management education that is accessible to professionals who desire to work full-time while completing their degree.

The prestigious Howard School of Business is accredited by AACSB International and has been ranked among the top U.S. Business Schools by Bloomberg BusinessWeek. ThePrinceton Review has consistently ranked Howard’s MBA program as the top business program (#1) for the “Greatest Opportunity for Minority Students.” As a result, business professionals will receive instruction from the world-class Howard School of Business faculty, and join a distinguished, global network of the top emerging executives from around the world.

For more information about future academic terms and how to apply for this online MBA program, visit us at http://executivemba.howard.edu.

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New Research Shows An Increase In Unemployment And Under-Employment Among Recent Graduates

Following the news that more than half of all graduates are either out of work or stuck in menial jobs some six months after leaving university, Guardian Jobs are today stressing the importance in preparing a good CV to give you the best chance of success in the jobs market.

A study by the Centre for Economics and Business Research found that 52% of last year’s university-leavers, that’s 15,655, were unemployed or under-employed six months after graduating.

20%, that’s 59,000 graduates, had no job this year, the highest amount in a decade and double when the recession began in 2008. Worse still, it’s estimated that some 55% of 2011 graduates will be unemployed or under-employed six months after leaving university.

A spokesperson for Guardian Jobs said today “These findings and predictions by the CEBR do make for rather grim reading. It really highlights the importance graduates must make in making themselves appear employable on their CV, which is after all, the first form of contact employers will have.”

To help graduates get the right job, Guardian Jobs have partnered up with The Fuller CV to offer a free CV checking service that promotes the message ‘just say no to bad CV advice’ and highlights the importance of getting your CV checked over by an expert.

To browse Guardian Jobs extensive selection of graduate jobs, and for advice on how to best prepare your CV for the jobs search, visit the Guardian Jobs website.

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The ICMA Centre Ranked 2nd For Employability By The Times Good University Guide

The ICMA Centre has been ranked 2nd for employability by The Times Good University Guide 2011*. This ranking demonstrates the emphasis the Centre places on producing graduates with skills and knowledge of real value to institutions in the financial markets.

Dr Adrian Bell, School Director of Teacher and Learning, said: “We are delighted with our position in the rankings. This reflects the Centre’s excellent links with leading financial institutions in the City, our practical application of finance theory through the use of our extensive dealing room facilities and our dedicated careers service.”

The ICMA Centre’s dedicated Career Development Unit is available to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. The Unit, staffed by industry professionals, not only provide advise on writing CVs, producing effective applications and helping students to find internships but also arrange networking events with alumni and financial institutions.

Martyn Drage, Career Development Manager at the Centre, said: “We have long recognised the importance of career development and have integrated specialist career management assistance into the undergraduate degree with the Career Management Skills module as well as supplementary presentations and workshops led by industry professionals and recruiters. The service we offer adds real value to students and it’s great to see that this is reflected in the rankings for the Centre.”

ICMA Centre BSc alumnus, Gurjit Kaur, said: “I don’t believe I would have learnt nearly as much about the recruitment process, the investment banking industry or even about myself and my suitability to various career paths if it hadn’t been for the Career Management Skills seminars, careers committee meetings and individual careers advisory sessions.”

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Henley Business School Partners With The FT To Offer Free Place On Advanced Management Programme

Henley Business School is working with the FT to offer the chance to win a free place on its Advanced Management Programme (AMP), the value of which is £15,995.

This 3-week course can be taken in one go or over three separate weeks during a year at the business school. As well as the course itself, the bursary that is available to FT readers and visitors to FT.com includes all residential costs and meals on the Henley campus.

Henley’s Advanced Management Programme prepares and develops senior managers to lead in an increasingly uncertain, ambiguous and changing world. It is a challenging learning experience that allies the essential practical and conceptual skills of an MBA with the necessary capabilities to drive and engage people in ways that unlock their potential and leads to better business results. It is an essential building block for those recently appointed to, or about to step up to, an executive leadership role. Full details on the programme can be found at www.henley.com/amp.

Previous AMP participant Tony Short, Vice President Europe, Middle East Africa, Dresser Wayne commented on the programme,

“As I was moving into a new role within the organisation I wanted to develop some extra skills around mergers and acquisitions, fine tuning my strategic thinking. Although I have close links through friends with other business schools it was the name and reputation of Henley which swung it for me. More than anything else it was the construction of the course, the combination of practical experience with learning experience.”

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The ICMA Centre Announces Promotion For Dr Adrian Bell

Dr Bell will be promoted to Professor on 1 October this year. Dr Bell, who has been with the ICMA Centre since 1994, has been instrumental in the development of both the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in his role as School Director of Teaching and Learning. He also developed the distance-learning option for the ICMA Centre’s suite of Masters in Finance degrees with the Centre’s New Media Solutions Manager – the first distance learning Masters in Finance degrees in the UK delivered using e-lectures.

Professor John Board, Director of the Centre commented: “This is excellent news both for Dr Bell and for the Centre. It is very well deserved and recognizes the significant contribution Dr Bell has made to the development of the Centre.”

Dr Bell’s primary research interest is in the history of finance and he is currently working on a major project funded by the ESRC with Professor Chris Brooks (Chair in Finance) which will investigate the early and innovative use of credit finance by a succession of English medieval monarchs. This three-year project, which ends this year, is detailed on the ICMA website and builds upon the work the same team carried out during 2004/5 for another ESRC project entitled “Modern Finance in the Middle Ages? Advance Contracts for the Supply of Wool”. For outputs, interested parties can visit the UK Data Archive, study number 5325, at www.data-archive.ac.uk.

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Henley Business School Appoints Professor Board, ICMA Centre Director, As Its New Dean

Henley Business School has announced that Professor John Board will become its new dean from 1 October 2010.

Professor Board is currently director of the ICMA Centre – the business school for financial markets at Henley Business School.

Professor Board is an outstanding academic in his own right with a strong track record in research, his expertise is sought in a number of areas including market regulation, transparency, derivatives and emerging markets.

Over the past five years, Professor Board has helped to build the ICMA Centre into one of the largest specialist education finance schools in Europe, with an international reputation for undergraduate, postgraduate (including eight Finance Masters) and executive education.

He has also been instrumental in the development of a range of specialist finance degrees including the MSc Capital Markets, Regulation and Compliance and the MSc Investment Banking and Islamic finance, which were both firsts in the UK.

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Henley Business School and Lane4 Develop Business Coaching Programme

New research from Henley Business School and the performance development consultancy Lane4 has highlighted how team coaching is being used successfully to improve business performance – but also how much further it has to go.

The survey, ‘Coaching Teams At Work: Embryonic Yet Powerful’, reveals that almost half of the organisations surveyed (45%) use both individual and team coaching and there are some glowing endorsements of the impact it has. The top benefit is increased employee engagement at 28%. Other benefits include improved trust within the team (22%), increased productivity (19%) and more effective and innovative solutions (18%).

However, more than half the organisations surveyed don’t use team coaching, for four main reasons: managers haven’t had any training in team coaching (32%), managers don’t understand the benefits of team coaching (31%), managers don’t feel confident coaching their teams (25%) and some feel their teams object to being coached (13%).

Dr Patricia Bossons, director of the Henley Centre for Coaching & Facilitation, said that this can be overcome: “Managers sometimes perceive coaching to be something done by people outside the business to people inside the business – just as in sports’ coaching where the coach is not normally a player as well. In business however, managers are now required to be player-coaches – a role many have not received training for – this is something we need to address if the obvious benefits of team coaching are to be more widely felt.”

To address these issues and make the powerful benefits of team coaching in a business context more accessible Henley Business School and Lane4 have developed, and will deliver, a new programme, Coaching High Performance Teams, from October 2010. The partnership will leverage the two organisations’ combined academic rigour and experience of coaching teams in a business environment as well as Lane4’s heritage in Olympic sport and expertise in performance psychology.

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Henley Business School Reveals Ideal Leadership Qualities

Henley Business School has released a collaborative paper from five leading academics who offer their individual perspectives on the emerging task for business leaders in particular.

Henley Business School Reveals Ideal Leadership Qualities

This second series of essays, following on from the 2009 ‘Henley Manifesto’ on leadership, focuses specifically on the emerging leadership task, post-recession. The series was written independently by five academics; Professor Chris Bones, Dean of Henley Business School, Professor Dominic Swords, Professor John Board, Director of the ICMA Centre, Professor Brian Scott-Quinn and Professor Peter Hawkins, Professor of Leadership.

There are several common themes that emerge from each writer’s contribution to the paper. One of these themes is the belief that there will be a renewed emphasis on sincere, genuine, transparent, values-based leadership should This means the leader needs to empathise with values that reflect the priorities of all the stakeholders; employees, shareholders, community and society at large.

There should be a collaborative nature to leadership with the recognition that one person does not and should not hold all the answers or power. There is a need for robust governance and this should be backed by corporate structures that enforce that governance.

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Henley Business School Reveals HR Paying Lip Service To Coaching

Henley Business School has revealed the results of its Corporate Learning Priorities survey which shows coaching remains high up the list of development priorities for 2010. However, while 61% of respondents said developing a coaching culture was one of their top 5 priorities, only 9% made it their 1st or 2nd priority.

Henley has suggested that this reflects an uncertainty about how to go about creating a coaching culture and concern as to whether the senior team will support the initiative. In addition, a quarter of respondents made ‘developing leadership coaching skills’ their first or second priority.

Dr Patricia Bossons, Director of Coaching Services at Henley Business School, commented: “I am hearing from clients and students alike that coaching has never been more important since it helps maintain clarity and resourcefulness in people driving business recovery. The fact that so many in the survey recognize the importance of coaching yet few appear to make it a high priority may be because coaching is seen as a process, rather than a specific ‘management development‘ area, such as strategic thinking or managing change. It is also still perceived by many to be something that lies in the hands of HR, or external coaches, so coaching skills development can easily be seen as someone else’s responsibility.”

She added: “Coaching can be the ‘oil’ that enables the rest of a management development agenda deliver tangible outcomes and results. A senior strategic leadership programme for example, is going to have much longer lasting impact, and a much greater return on investment, if each individual is supported by an independent coach as they go through their programme. Individuals recognize this, which is why the statistics in the research show leadership coaching skills development as a high priority.”

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Henley Launches New Themed Corporate Finance MBA

Henley Executive MBA applicants can from this year onwards choose to take advantage of the exceptional scope of expertise offered by Henley through a range of themed MBAs. These themed MBAs are designed for experienced, practising managers who are looking for a world renowned general management MBA but with a particular application to three different industries – corporate finance, construction management and real estate.

Henley Launches New Themed Corporate Finance MBA

The three different themed MBAs are delivered via collaboration between the industry respected schools of Henley – the International Capital Markets Association (ICMA) Centre, the School of Real Estate and Planning and the School of Construction Management from the University of Reading.

Participants will study as part of the executive MBA programme and follow the core curriculum whilst periodically studying tailored modules bespoke to their subject theme at appropriate points in time.

Associate Professor Susan Rose, the Associate Head of the School of Management responsible for The Henley MBA, said: “I am delighted to work in collaboration with colleagues of the Henley Business School and The University of Reading who have such strong industry connections and reputations in their respective fields. This enables us to offer MBA participants something really different. The themed programmes provide the best of both worlds for those who want general managerial development whilst applying it to the very specific challenges of their sector and thereby demonstrating commitment to their organisation.”

The Henley Executive MBA is a two year part-time programme aimed at aspiring senior managers who wish to develop their management competency as well as focus on their own personal development, alongside their full-time employment.

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Henley MBA Bursary Supports Great Women Managers

Henley Business School has launched its annual range of scholarships and bursaries for the Henley full-time and executive MBA 2010 intakes.

This year, the scholarships are designed to reward real academic merit and will be offered to the four candidates across both modes of study who can bring most academic value to the programmes. Each scholarship is worth 50% of the full fee.

The bursaries however are designed to support the very special mix of experience and backgrounds characteristic of those studying for the Henley MBA. Ten candidates will be offered the 50% bursary from those applying from a variety backgrounds including emerging markets, the public sector, the voluntary sector, SMEs or if they are women in business.

The Henley scholarships and bursaries are only open to those who are 100% self sponsored and the closing date for both is Monday 12th April 2010. The Henley Executive and Full-time MBA both start autumn 2010.

Director of MBA Recruitment Ashley Arnold says: “The Henley MBA is designed for experienced managers from around the world and from every industry. Every year we meet a fantastic mix of great people, all with something to share.

“I am delighted that this year the scholarships and bursaries support that combination which ensures a very special learning experience for all.”

The Henley MBA is for experienced, practicing managers seeking a world-class MBA programme that will develop potential and prepare those studying the course for a senior management position.

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Henley Business School Responds To The Way Businesses Want To Learn

Henley Business School has launched its new Executive Education Portfolio which features 13 brand new programmes designed to meet the challenges of today’s economic uncertainty, in response to both the results of its recent Corporate Learning Priorities survey and to expert feedback from its own Faculty.

Henley Business School Responds To The Way Businesses Want To Learn

“The learning & development professionals who responded to the survey gave us a clear indication of their ‘worry list’ for 2010.” explained Linda Irwin, Executive Director, Corporate Development. “They want to focus on leadership development – both of senior and middle managers, managing change and developing high potentials. For renewal, regeneration and recovery, continued investment in all talent is the only sustainable option and the big emphasis seems to be on continuing to develop leaders holistically to make the right choices; for themselves, their organisations and for the wider society. Skills that respond to the new business zeitgeist feature in this research – areas of such huge importance for global, 21st century responsible leadership; innovation, sustainability and rebuilding trust with all stakeholders. This reinforced the views of our Faculty and conversations with our existing corporate clients and our Alumni. We have designed this new Portfolio specifically to meet those needs.”

The survey also indicated what is important to businesses when choosing an executive education programme. 76% said reputation was extremely important, as was inclusion of recent, original research to 86% or respondents.

“This is not surprising,” reflected Linda Irwin, “Providing innovative and impactful programme design based upon relevant and rigorous research is the main differentiator between business school provision of L & D solutions and that of many other providers.”

Many respondents said that partnering where appropriate with external experts and guest speakers was significant for 88% or respondents. “Businesses expect that we stay close to our markets; both through our research, through practitioner Faculty and by collaborating with the best industry speakers and expert contributors where relevant”, suggested Irwin. The use of up to date case studies was key to 65% of respondents and use of experiential learning and a focus on soft skills to 57%. 71% also cited the environment where the training will take place as quite important to them.

With little time to spare away from the office 53% of respondents indicated that for open programmes 2-3 days are optimal while 18% stated ‘the shorter the better’. However, 27% thought programmes ‘should be as long as the learning objectives require’ – revealing scope for longer interventions where a case for them can be made.

Irwin commented, “Our new executive education portfolio reflects the respondents views; shorter, incisive, knowledge-led 2 day interventions on issues such as commercial insight for HR, systemic innovation and managing reputation and longer, more experiential management programmes on leadership and coaching for example, which offer opportunities to change behaviour at a deeper lever.”

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