Strong engagement with business combined with impactful research and enterprise has put Bristol Business School in the running for major education award.
The shortlisting, in the Business School of the Year category of the Times Higher Education Awards 2017, comes as the culmination of a “fantastic” year for the school, according to its executive dean. 
Donna Whitehead said that appearing on the Times Higher shortlist coincided with seeing investment in the new state-of-the-art building for the school – part of UWE Bristol – come to life.
“The building is a symbol for the way we approach business education with an emphasis on practice-based learning enhanced by the way we relate to and engage with thousands of business partners in the region,” she said.
“The new purpose-built business school has completely moved away from traditional learning spaces and greatly expanded the use of technology-enhanced active learning to allow for greater co-creation and student-led problem solving.
“We have created an ambitious, creative and inspiring place for our students, staff and the business community.”
The school is distinctive in five areas – engagement with businesses and the region, enterprise, practice led teaching and learning, internationalisation and research that is shaping the future of organisations.
The award submission was based around the business school’s performance during the academic year 2015/16 in which it performed strongly in the areas of enterprise and practice-based learning, engaging with business and impactful research.
Scores in the 2016 National Student Survey (NSS) show excellent student satisfaction rates – with 100% on BA Business and Human Resource Management and 98% on BA Economics. At the same time, businesses in the region routinely describe the school as responsive, innovative and engaging.
Donna added: “We have embraced new learning methods, such as the BA (Hons) Team Entrepreneurship, where we achieved an NSS personal development score of 98%.
“Employability rates are impressive with 95% of our students in work and 75% in professional and managerial roles/further study six months after graduation.
“Enterprise is embedded within all of our courses ensuring that all students graduate as resilient, agile and able to deal with a working environment that is constantly changing.
“Students are encouraged to take part in summer internships with financial support and a mentor to develop a business. As part of a partnership agreement with Santander, students can compete in a Dragons’ Den competition with up to £5,000 available to winners.
“A Business Fellows Programme brings together an exclusive network of 40 business leaders, from a range of sectors, working in partnership with each other to mentor our students and work in collaboration with our academics.
“A world-class Bristol Distinguished Address Series is brought to the city twice each year where business leaders are invited to open lectures to provide valuable insight to record numbers of employers and students.
“In April 2016 our BA (Hons) International Business was accredited by EPAS, a highly regarded international accreditation system enjoyed by only the world’s best business courses.
“During 2015/16, Bristol Business School received £1,121,000 in income for business and management research – exceeding that of all University Alliance Business Schools and a significant number of Russell Group Business Schools.”
UWE Bristol president and vice-chancellor Prof Steve West said: “The Bristol Business School deserves to win Business School of the Year. Our strategic objectives are bold and distinctive and we are proud to open up opportunities to thousands of students who go on to become business leaders.
“I am proud of what the staff team has achieved and grateful to the hard work from across the university that has led to this recognition by making the Times Higher Education awards shortlist in this important category.”
The winner will be announced at an awards dinner and ceremony on November 30 at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane, London.
