Working with external stakeholders

Crucial to my understanding of the curriculum is a strategy of successful cooperation with stakeholders from outside the immediate ambit of the International Business College Mitrovica.  With this in mind we organised, during the month of June, two curriculum development workshops and invited external stakeholders to see first hand what we are doing - with a view to offering suggestions on how we might improve.  It was expected that the workshops would provide an opportunity for external input into ideas of what our students learn whilst leading to an understanding of the overall learning outcomes that potential employers expect of our institution.

The first event focused on our Business Studies activities and we were lucky that Martin Lauth, a former head of Tietgen Business School, was able to attend and share his experience of transforming that Danish institution through a radical approach to teaching entrepreneurship.

Martin Lauth explores the possibilities for entrepreneurship at the International Business College Mitovica

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 10th June 2010

I was very pleased that, after the formal presentations, the plenary session saw active and engaged contributions from participants.  It became clear that local businesses support the idea of professional education in Mitrovica and that they really are looking for highly trained graduates to employ in their businesses.  Most important was the fact that several participants did not hesitate to promise placements for internships for students of the International Business College Mitrovica.  Of course, the idea of practical experience is at the heart of our experiential learning curriculum and so internship places are always at a premium.

In time honoured fashion, after a very successful day of intensive discussion on the future of professional higher education, participants all repaired to a local hostelry to reflect on the day's activities!

After a hard days deliberations at the International Business College Mitovica, workshop participants reflect upon the outcomes!

Source: ©Paul Sudnik - 10th June 2010