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New leading edge research centres set for launch

04 September 2003

 

Alan Clarke, Chief Executive of One NorthEast, will officially launch three new Research Centres at the University of Teesside on Monday 15 September. The Centres will all be based at Teesside Business School within the University, and are as follows:

* Centre for Entrepreneurship and SME (Small and Medium Sized Enterprise) Development, led by Ted Fuller, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategic Foresight.

* Centre for Leadership and Organisational Change, led by Paul Iles, Professor of Strategic Human Resource Management

* Centre for Public Services Management, led by Alan Doig, Professor of Public Services Management.

The launch takes place in the Second Floor, Clarendon Building, from 5.30pm. A reception will be held, with music provided by jazz quartet the Noel Dennis Band. Teesside graduate Noel Dennis combines a musical career with that of an academic, as a lecturer in Marketing at Teesside Business School.

After the reception, Alan Clarke will speak at 6.30pm, followed by brief descriptions of their work from each of the three Professors in charge of the new Centres. Vice-Chancellor, Professor Graham Henderson, will also outline the University’s research strategy.

Dr Alan Lawton, Teesside Business School’s Professor of Organisational Ethics and Assistant Director (Research), will contribute to each of the Centres. He said: “The Centres are very much in tune with the Government’s thinking of the transference of leading edge research from the academic community to the business community. The Research Centres will be practically based, offering opportunities for the University’s academics and business practitioners to come together and exchange ideas. Our research will not only have a regional dimension, but also national and international, building on current research and consultancy activities.”

Professor Lawton added that the Centres will also provide a focus for all the different research activities within Teesside Business School. One example of a current project is a £97,000 contract to complete research for the Standards Board for England. Other research will develop an ethical framework for UK local authorities.

The Centres will also provide consultancies for regional business and public sector organisations. Professor Lawton added: “The public sector is a huge employer in the North-East. We’ve already delivered a workshop to Redcar & Cleveland Council on team development and team effectiveness, and worked with them on a one-day seminar on local democracy.

“Public service management is a particular strength of Teesside Business School and our MBA (Public Management) is very successful. We’re looking to develop research from this programme. We are currently seeking to expand, and diversify, the programme to include all areas of the public services including health, police and fire services.”

David Preece, Professor of Technology Management and Organisational Studies, will also contribute towards the research activity of the Centre for Leadership and Organisational Change. The team of five Professors has been appointed by Teesside Business School because of their expertise in a range of key business and management areas.

Professor John Wilson, Director of Teesside Business School, said: “There is now specialist, internationally-renowned expertise in Teesside Business School. The Centres will help the School ensure this expertise is promoted and is accessible to organisations. By offering support to SMEs, by contributing to the effective delivery of public services and by making available expertise in the key areas of leadership and change, the Centres will make a significant contribution to the development of the Tees Valley and the North East”.

For more information on the Research Centres at Teesside Business School at the University of Teesside please contact Professor Alan Lawton on 01642 342808 or e-mail a.lawton@tees.ac.uk


 
 
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