We offer a wide range of opportunities for you to share your professional knowledge and experience with our students, from contributing to course design to guest speaking. Involving business experts in our curriculum supports our students’ learning and ensures that their skills reflect your business needs.
You will have the chance to make links with teaching and academic staff, collaborate and advise on academic research activities, and support student and graduate employability.
Industry Advisory Boards
Industry Advisory Boards provide opportunities for you, the industry experts, to shape the strategic direction and content of our courses. The boards assist in ensuring that degree programmes:
- reflect current developments and trends
- meet skill requirements
- ensure course content is shaped from an industry perspective
The boards are also an opportunity for you to advise on academic research activities, as well as support activities to improve student and graduate employability.
One example of an industry panel is our SME industry panel, which address not only course content but also looks at the specific skills and needs required for businesses in the Micro, Small and Medium industry categories. All of these ensure that our degree programmes reflect current industry developments and trends, as well as meeting sector skills requirements.
Panels typically comprise industry professionals and alumni from the University and meet a few times a year. To find out more about how you can contribute your expertise and experience as an Industry Advisory Board member, contact our Enterprise & Engagement Team.
Oxbury Bank Plc – The Agricultural Bank
Iain Hawthorn holds a Diploma and a Master's in Management Studies from Christ Church, and is Chair of our Business School’s Advisory Board, helping to ensure the curriculum remains relevant to the current business world, as well as mentoring a number of our students on a one-to-one basis. Iain is also now a part-time Lecturer in the Business School.
I'm hugely proud to be an alumnus and really looking forward to continuing to help the Business School, staff and students as the Chair of the Business School Advisory Board. The future looks terrific!
Iain HawthornSenior Agriculture Manager, South-East at Oxbury Bank Plc, The Agricultural Bank
Guest lectures
Del Brown, freelance TV Director and Vision Mixer
Since 2011, Del Brown, freelance TV Director and Vision Mixer has been a guest lecturer for (BA) Film, Radio and Television, helping third year students with their final project. Del enjoys being able to give something back, and by sharing his wealth of technical expertise and knowledge he helps ensure that when students leave they already have experience in the industry.
Taking place within the timetable, guest lectures from industry professionals provide students with valuable insights into your sector, and give you an opportunity to share your expertise, as well as to highlight employment opportunities and skills needs within your sector or organisation. Many of our guest lecturers are alumni, but we are always looking for new speakers.
Our Enterprise & Engagement Team can discuss opportunities for you to contribute to our curriculum, or to share your experience with students more informally.