ARC: Connections: ELMAR: Posting

---

Advances in Business Education and Training: Crossing borders in Education and Work-based Learning

Important Dates

Abstract submission deadline: 1st of February 2010
Notification of acceptance abstract: 1st of March 2010
Full paper submission deadline: 28th of May 2010
Conference date: June 9-11, 2010

Thames Valley University
London, United Kingdom

In the aftermath of the largest economic and financial crisis since the 1930s, higher educational institutes and businesses alike are forced to reconsider their business strategy. The unprecedented changes in the last two years forces each institute to re-think its business strategy in an ever changing global and competitive environment. The interconnectivity of businesses, institutes and countries on a global rather than local or national level forces us to step beyond our own border and redefine education and (work-based) learning.

A first border that needs to be crossed is the border between education and the professional field. There is an increasing need for business programs to provide their graduates with relevant competences and skills needed to succeed in an extremely competitive business environment. The world’s business environment is changing at an unprecedented rate. Given the tension between the topics learned at the business schools and the professional field, increasing attention is also being paid toward crossing borders between formal and informal learning. Furthermore, given the inherent global market in which businesses operate, educational institutes and training institutes alike are preparing lifelong learners to become global world citizens, equipped with cultural awareness and interdisciplinary skills. Finally, considering the pace at which online tools like Facebook, LinkedIn and Youtube influence our lives, the border between traditional education and online learning is fading rapidly. All these “crossing-border” developments ask for innovative approaches to teach and learn, in a time where financial reserves for innovation are extremely limited.

The 17th EDiNEB conference demonstrates our commitment to further development of Business Education and Training for Business Practice. Join us June 2010 in the exciting and vibrant European city London at Thames Valley University to discuss recent research and best practices in innovating business education, and participate in exciting workshops, and to network with practitioners, educators, trainers, and researchers. Conference sessions are dedicated to examples of best practices in business education and training as well as educational research examining effects of educational change on student learning.

New in 2010 are six specific tracks designed to have track chairs responsible for the overall quality within his/her track. Another new feature is the renewed paper-submission process in order to enhance the overall quality of submissions. Authors need to submit a full paper before the conference, which will be published in a conference proceedings book including ISBN. The 2010 conference is designed to provide an overarching view to current trends and thoughts about business education and the preparation of business leaders through corporate training. Globalization and the interconnectedness of business developments with societal needs serve as drivers to rethink design of business curricula, talent management in corporations, and collaboration between business schools and the corporate world.

Conference Themes

Track 1: Crossing borders between education and the workplace

This track is meant for contributions regarding cooperation between the educational field (including research) and the professional field. Contributions might be about innovative joint (research) projects with businesses or organizations, work placements, work-based learning programs, sandwich/dual education programs and the like.

Track 2: Crossing borders between face-2-face (on-site) education and distance education

Contributions in this track focus on innovative blended, hybrid or virtual education practices (combination between on-site and web-based/CSCL/other types of distance learning), research findings comparing the effectiveness of on-site versus distance education, innovative distance learning courses, construction of identity in online groups, development of shared mental models in online communities, etcetera.

Track 3: Crossing borders between formal and informal learning

This track is reserved for contributions regarding learning conducted by and within an educational or training organization, leading to some form of recognized certification (formal learning) versus conscious or subconscious (semi-structured) learning in everyday life (informal learning).Contributions might be about innovative concepts regarding lifelong learning, certification based on previously acquired competencies, pedagogical (andragogical, heutagogical) concepts that take informal learning processes into account, etcetera.

Track 4: Crossing borders between disciplines

Contributions involving seemingly ‘unnatural’ combinations of (‘traditional’) disciplines within one course or program (for instance teaching biotechnology to business management students), possibly affecting pedagogical methods, might be included in this track.

Track 5: Crossing borders between nations and cultures

Topics discussed in this track could include cross-borders education, off-shore education, joint degree programs, double degree programs, culturally inclusive pedagogy, the influence of culture on academic achievement and the like.

Track 6: Open Track

This track is meant for contributions that transverse some or all other tracks or that crosses other kinds of borders. All contributions submitted under this track are subject to an assessment of their ‘fit’ with other contributions submitted for the conference (in addition to the general criteria used in the double-blind peer-review)

EDiNEB is known for its emphasis on educational research, its focus on bridging business education with business practice, and its spirit to share experiences and knowledge on innovation. EDiNEB’s passion for reflection on practice is visible in its new international peer-reviewed book series “Advances in Business Education and Training” published by Springer. Our conference provides an excellent opportunity to submit papers for peer review and get selected for publication in the edited volumes of Advances in Business Education and Training.

For information and abstract submission please visit the EDiNEB website www.edineb.net

---