ST. JOHN’S, NL – The business side of the School of Business and Information Technology (IT) is about to become the subject matter for college deans and leaders from across the country.
Two conferences are being held back-to-back in St. John’s this week that will showcase the major advancements being made in business learning opportunities throughout the country.
Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 16, the Association of the Canadian Schools of Business (ACSB) is hosting the deans of 22 business schools, predominantly from colleges across Canada, for a one-day session at College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Ridge Road campus.
Stephen Warren, Dean of CNA’s School of Business and Information Technology (IT), is excited to see such a diverse group come together to share ideas and network about institution-wide best practices. The good thing about hosting these conferences, he adds, is that it’s a great opportunity to showcase CNA as a whole, as well as its schools of study and Connected Learning Network (blended and online program delivery) capabilities.
“Our goal is to provide each other with strategic initiatives on projects that are happening across our fellow institutes,” said Warren. “A large portion of the day will be focused on regional updates, and further broken down by Atlantic, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia - we’ve got five areas and a chance for each of us to learn from each other. We are growing in numbers, growing in different types of delivery methodologies, and it’s a great opportunity to show that off and no doubt it will be interesting for all colleges.”
Warren said academic planning is also another best practice item on the agenda, outlining CNA’s three to five-year strategic planning cycle, which really forces the school’s program developers and team leaders to look forward.
“Planning for three to five years is challenging if you don’t know where your industries are going,” he said. “It really makes us proactive as opposed to reactive, and knowing what the emerging trends are in the schools and in the sectors. CNA is doing great things, and we need to do a better job of heralding our successes. I believe we are ready to step out and showcase the quality programming that we have institution-wide, and how progressive we are.”
Also on Wednesday, a second national conference will get under way at the Murray Premises Hotel involving Region 11 members (colleges and universities in Canada) of the Accreditation Council for Business School Programs (ACBSP), a U.S.-based organization. Nearly all the participants from the ACSB conference will also attend this one.
The ACBSP accredits colleges around the world, including CNA (which was the first institution in Canada to receive accreditation in 2006) and programs falling under business schools.
Two major themes will unfold over three days, including Student-Centered Quality Management and Teaching in a Student-Centered World.
“CNA is the most senior of Canadian institutions to receive accreditation for its business programs; other institutions have since been recognized and the membership has grown,” noted Warren. “This is very much an opportunity for us to assist other institutions who are accredited or are in the process of being accredited, and to learn about everything involving the ACBSP. As much as they accredit programs, they also accredit the institution on a macro level.”
The ACBSP looks for data and information that is college-wide, such as student satisfaction, employer satisfaction, the amount of applied research being done, the amount of professional development resources spent on faculty, and they also look at continuing education, alumni, campuses, facilities and resources.
“So when people see the ACBSP logo on our materials, it says a lot – not just about our programs or the school, but about the institution itself and that you can expect quality.”
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Media contact:
Michelle Barry
Communications Manager
College of the North Atlantic
709-643-7721
michelle.barry@cna.nl.ca