International Faculty development conference IFDC 97 Draws Management Specialists from Central & Eastern EuropeCracow, July 10-11 th | |||
Not even the threat of high-water could keep some delegates from attending the recent International Faculty Development Conference (IFDC) at the Cracow Academy of Economics in Poland on July 10-11 this year. Despite horror stories of some participants enduring 27 hour train journeys to reach Cracow, made worse by the severe flooding in Poland at thas time, the IFDC 1997 still managed to gather an impressive list of management specialists from eight different countries including Poland, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Russia and Serbia. The participants were all alumni of the International Faculty Development Program (IFDP), a nine-week intensive training program for Professors of Central and Eastern Europe, held annually at IESE since 1992. Thirteen of these IFDP alumni gave presentations to delegates on their latest projects, research or courses currently being implemented at their own institutions as a result of their participation in the IFDP. The conference was officially opened by Rector of the Cracow Academy of Economics, Professor Tadeusz Grabinski, and Dean of IESE, Professor Carlos Cavallé. Following the opening, faculty and staff responsible for the Central and Eastern European department at IESE contributed to the conference with presentations. Professor Luis Mª Huete, Chairman of the Academic Council for the IFDP, delivered a session on Leadership. Ms. María de la Puerta, Manager of the depart-ment, briefed delegates on the recent events held in many of their countries to promote the IESE MBA and the unique ABN AMRO loan scheme for Central and Eastern European students. Assistant Direc-tor, Ms Fiona van Haeringen, repor-ted on the lastest edition of the IFDP held at IESE earlier this year. We were also fortunate to have Professor Carlos Sánchez-Runde in attendance to present a proposal for an international collaborative research network for all IFDP alumni. In his opening speech, Professor Carlos Cavallé said that IESE is dedicated to the long-term development of Central and Eastern European economies through effective management training. "It is a follow-on effect. IESE believes that high quality management is the key to any company's success and this can only be realised through top-notch business education, experience and training", he said. "We are honoured to be working alongside some of the best management specialists in Central and Eastern Europe and believe the results of their work will have resounding, long-term effects on the economies of their countries." Russian IFDP Alumnus (1992), Mr. Boris Popov, Deputy Chairman of MPI-Bank in Moscow, gave a presentation to delegates on the changes in business education in Russia during the last five years. Entitled "Closing the Gap?", Mr Popov's presentation compared stu-dents' attitudes and motivations and the financing and teaching level available in Russian business educa-tion five years ago with the situation in Russia today. "I believe that programs such as the IFDP are even more necessary now than five years ago", Mr. Popov said. -The external "economic" gap may be closing slowly, but there is still a very big internal gap when it comes to the organisational structure of the business teaching market. -The IFDP is not only about how to teach, but how to manage teaching and how to run teaching as a business for the benefit of all", he said. Professional and academic benefits aside, perhaps one of the most valuable parts of the IFDC is the opportunity to renew ties and meet old friends again. A gala dinner was held on the Thursday evening for the 50 delegates together with some of their families. Those who were able to remain the weekend following the IFDC, enjoyed the delights of Cracow and its nearby attractions. Our sincere thanks go to all the staff and faculty of the Cracow Academy of Economics for all their hard work, support and generous use of their facilities in the organisation of the IFDC, particularly Dr. Leslaw Piecuch and Ms Dorota Wasik (IFDP 97) from the International Programs Office. As per tradition, participants voted on the venue/dates for the IFDC 1998 and we are pleased to announce that it is planned for the University of Zagreb, Croatia; 9 and 10 of July 1998. |
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