SERC Business Students Gain Insights at Economic Development Conference

Students from SERC's BSc (Hons) Business Management Degree (Validated by Liverpool John Moores University) recently attended Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Economic Development Conference, at the Clandeboye Lodge Hotel, Bangor.

The Conference focused on the themes of digital, climate and social transformation within a business context. SERC’s Deputy Head of School for Business, Health and Hospitality, Jenny McConnell attended the event with the students. She said: “The conference was a great learning opportunity for the students, they were given insights into the advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI); the implications of the Climate Act and sustainability; as well as discussions around emerging employment legislation and new post-Covid working arrangements.”

In addition to students and other future business leaders, the conference was attended by local business owners and senior managers as well as several business support organisations. The Keynote Speaker for the event was John Straw, a leading speaker on disruptive innovation and disruptive technology, who inspired the students with his talk about the five pillars of disruptive innovation - AI, Internet of Things, 3D printing, augmented reality and advanced robotics.

Jenny concluded: “The BSc (Hons) Business Management programme is designed to facilitate students’ development of a range of graduate qualities that are highly valued in the workplace. Attendance at this conference supplemented the classroom studies of the students, allowing them to explore contemporary workplace issues. It also offered several networking opportunities with business leaders and other professionals.”