GBS at ISBE 2009

The University of Glamorgan Business School was well represented in the 32nd Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) conference held in Liverpool.

The annual international ISBE conference is one of the leading small business and entrepreneurship conference for individuals and organisations involved with SME research and entrepreneurship education and support. This year’s conference witnessed 240 papers being presented from 49 countries and over 100 different educational institutions.

Academics from the University of Glamorgan Business School took a leading role in the organisation and management of the conference. Dr Gary Packham, Head of Programmes at the Business School and director of the Centre for Enterprise undertook the role of track advisor of the Management, Skills Development and Growth Issues. Similarly, Dr Paul Jones, Head of Division of Enterprise and Economic Development acted as track leader of the ICT, IT and E-Business in the Small Firm Sector.

In total, academics from the UoG Business School presented 11 papers in a diversity of topics including entrepreneurial attitudes and motivations female entrepreneurship, small business automotive suppliers, ICT adoption, innovation performance, the potential role of business angels in commercialising university research and business support. All the presentations were well received and achieved excellent feedback. In terms of papers presented this represented the most significant contribution of all attendant universities. Dr Nigel Lockett the Vice President of ISBE noted:

“The University of Glamorgan continues to make a major contribution to small business and entrepreneurship research, policy and practice and has been a key contributor to the ongoing success of the ISBE conference”

Furthermore the paper co-authored by Dr Paul Jones, Dr Gary Packham and Professor Malcolm Beynon of Cardiff Business School examining the motivations for undertaking entrepreneurship education using uncertain reasoning was awarded the best paper in track award for the Learning for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Education track.

Dr Gary Packham summarised the contribution by the University of Glamorgan as:

“Glamorgan and in particular the Business School continue to make a significant contribution to the annual ISBE conference and it pleasing to see this contribution being both acknowledged and commended by the conference organisers. All the papers presented contribute to academic debate, published research output and the further development of research and networking opportunities between several European partners. Such activity ensures that Glamorgan has achieved an extremely high profile in terms of entrepreneurship education and small business research. Attendance at such events has seen the University develop a significant research identity and reputation which is central to its vision and strategic priorities.”

For information on postgraduate study options in the field of enterprise and entrepreneurship please see our MSc International Business and Enterprise and MSc Entrepreneurship – Female Entrepreneurs courses.

We also offer an online undergraduate course in this area – BA [Hons] International Business and Enterprise – alongside our BA [Hons] Business and Enterprise degree programme.