Business schools can help end recession, says Warwick dean

WARWICK Business School Dean Mark Taylor believes business schools can help pull the country out of its economic recession.

Professor Taylor was speaking after a two-day annual conference of the Association of Business Schools, entitled Innovation for Growth, held at The University of Warwick this week.

David Willetts, minister for universities and science, was one of the speakers at the conference that attracted more than 130 delegates.

With question marks over the ethics of banks following a series of scandals and with the UK economy still shrinking, Professor Taylor believes business schools can not only lead research to improve the nation’s economy but produce a new generation of business leaders.

“This was an important conference in demonstrating the role that UK business schools can play in stimulating innovation and growth in the economy,” said Professor Taylor, who delivered a presentation on Measuring the impact of UK business schools on innovation and growth at the conference.

“Convening senior management from the sector allowed the opportunity to exchange new ideas, promote collaboration, and seize the future.”

The conference saw the launch of the ‘Business Schools, Seizing the Future’ booklet. This maps out the issues to make sure business schools, which play a central role in helping universities bring in £5bn a year to the UK economy from overseas students, are at the forefront of leading the country out of recession.

Willetts highlighted the importance of business schools for the country. He said “British business schools attract people from all over the world because they are among the best in the world.

“But they operate in a very competitive environment and must constantly improve to remain ahead of the pack.”