Get ready for 2014 Annual Connect Conference next month

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The focus of the AABS Connect 2014 Conference is on how businesses and business schools can connect and play an active role in the sustainable development of African economies.

The conference will be held at the Strathmore Business School in Nairobi, Kenya from 18-21 May 2014. AABS has 30 full members across Africa and nine pipeline members which are working on achieving membership during the next three years.

"Never before has the outlook and potential of the African economy been so positive," says AABS Chairman and Director of the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, Professor Walter Baets. "With a number of African countries amongst the fastest growing in the world, the challenge is not only to drive growth across the region, but to drive inclusive growth."

With around 80 delegates, including deans, heads of business schools, academics as well as business and public sector leaders in the education sector, the AABS Connect Conference brings together some of the best minds in the management education sector. Last year's event, which was held in Morocco, proved to be a forum for lively debate about issues currently faced by business schools in Africa and this year promises the same.

Critical role in developing managers

"Business schools play a critical role in developing managers and executives who are key role players in driving growth and competitiveness," says Baets. "Not only do they build enterprises and create jobs, they are the ones who need to ensure that growth is inclusive, sustainable and takes into account development goals."

"The World Economic Forum has identified inequality as the biggest potential risk for global political and social stability. This is a challenge that we, as Business Schools, must rise to meet by fostering inclusive growth in our management education curricula," says Prof. Baets.

Speakers

A strong lineup of speakers includes economist Dr Robin Kibuka from Uganda; Chairman of the Simba Group, Patrick Bitature; Paul Kinuithia, Marketing Director of Interconsumer Goods; Patricia Ithau, Managing Director of L'Oreal; Prof. Nick Binedell, Dean of the Gordon Institute of Business Science and Jonathan Cook, Chairman of the African Management Initiative.

Speakers will address topics such as: The Role of Institutions in Africa's Economic Story; Advancing Management Education in Africa; Business Schools in the digital age; creative curriculum design and growing the African student pipeline.

"As business schools we have an opportunity to develop our own models and intellectual frameworks to better serve business communities across the continent," says Dr George Njenga, Dean at Strathmore Business School. "This conference is an excellent opportunity to network with thought leaders from across the continent and share ideas and best practice."

Format of the conference

The format of the conference will include presentations, discussions, and round table working sessions with an academic as well as a corporate lead and the chance to network informally during the programme.

To encourage networking across the continent, business schools operating in Francophone African countries will attend the conference and there will be interpretation and translation services available at the conference.

"One cannot credibly talk of being an African association without the contribution of French-speaking business schools," adds Baets. "We are delighted that this event will bring together colleagues from all corners of the continent."

"This is a forum for collaboration across different institutions and organisations to forge innovative change in management education in Africa," says Baets.