Partner Article

Partnership on the right track

A corporate partnership between Newcastle Business School and public transport provider Nexus that led to the creation of a bespoke MA programme has received international recognition. The two organisations were highly commended in this year’s European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), Excellence in Practice Award.

Newcastle Business School worked closely with Nexus to design a programme to help Nexus managers make fundamental changes, as the organisation transforms into a strategic planning-led and procurement-driven organisation. Nexus, the passenger transport executive for Tyne and Wear, owns and manages the region’s Metro system, as well as planning and providing all forms of public transport.

Led by Associate Dean for Corporate and Executive Development, Jane Turner; Newcastle Business School academics Ruth Leggett and Joanne James; and David Bartlett, Human Resources Director of Nexus, the joint award entry highlighted the development of the Management Effectiveness Masters programme for Nexus managers. The programme content is closely aligned to the company’s business strategy, integrating theory and practice to prepare managers to help their workforces deliver Metro Reinvigoration, the introduction of Smart Ticketing and the building of a Better Bus Network. Currently there are 44 Nexus managers on the programme, 20 of whom are taking the fully accredited route. The programme has already had a significant impact on Nexus, with managers improving their competency level and 37 percent of managers progressing in their careers since starting the programme.

Dean of Newcastle Business School, Professor Sharon Mavin, Dean, said: “This recognition from EFMD is very important for the business school. This is the first time we have entered a submission for the award and to receive a high commendation which recognises our strength in partnership working with business and which addresses their strategic challenges is a significant outcome for Newcastle Business School and Northumbria University.”

David Bartlett, Nexus’ HR Director, said: “At Nexus we are proud of our achievements over the past four years, during which our partnership with Newcastle Business School has been in place. We are now well on our way to delivering our key strategic priorities of Metro Reinvigoration, Smart Ticketing and Building a Better Bus Network.

“I have no doubt that our Management Effectiveness Programme was pivotal to our success in introducing such significant change to the organisation and I am delighted that this collaboration has achieved international recognition.”

Now in its sixth year, the EFMD Excellence in Practice Awards 2012 recognises outstanding partnerships in learning and development. Also highly commended in this year’s awards were entries from Airbus, AirBusiness Academy and the Open University Business School; BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte, Axialent Europe DTEK & DTEK Academy and Kyiv-Mohyla Business School (KMBS); and Novartis International & Novartis Corporate Learning UBS with UBS Business University.

Dr Richard Straub, Director of Development at EFMD, said: “Developing people, enhancing skills and providing a learning environment are essential components for any company. All of the winning cases and highly commended cases show that investing in people is not a luxury; it is a key asset for business success if done well.” EFMD is a Brussels-based international membership organisation with over 750 member organisations from academia, business, public service and consultancy in 81 countries. The network advances excellence in management development in Europe and worldwide by building links between leading business schools and companies, creating and disseminating knowledge on best practices and changing trends and providing access to benchmarking tools and accreditation. Five winning partnerships will present their case-study to the EFMD Executive Education Conference hosted by Instituto Internacional San Telmo (Sevilla, Spain) in October.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Katr .