Henley Business School Responds To The Way Businesses Want To Learn
Released
on: February 15, 2010, 9:16 am
Author:
Henley Business School
Industry: Education
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.
"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."
Notes to Editors:
The survey was conducted online in November 2009 amongst 2,500 corporate client and
non-client contacts of Henley Business School. A total of 119 responses were
received of which 60% were from Directors, VP's or Heads of HR or Learning &
Development, 32% were HR Managers/Officers and 7% were non-HR Directors.
The Henley Executive Education Portfolio can be downloaded from the Henley Business
School website.
About Henley Business School at the University of Reading
Henley Business School is one of Europe's largest full-service business schools and
offers a comprehensive range of management courses, from undergraduate business degrees to executive education. Its portfolio also
encompasses the world-ranked Henley MBA, Executive MBA and Distance Learning MBA,
The Henley Doctor of Business Administration, PhD opportunities, and postgraduate
Masters courses in business. It is also one of the very few international business
schools to hold triple accredited status (AMBA, EQUIS, AACSB).
PR Contact:
Judith Hunt
Communications Management
Calverton House
2 Harpenden Road
St. Albans
AL3 5AB
+44 1727 737989
www.henley.reading.ac.uk
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