I am all booked and ready for the OBTS 2017 conference in Providence, Rhode Island. This will be my first OBTS conference experience and my first time in New England, excluding a connection at Boston airport on the way to Nova Scotia for a conference. The conference is a teaching conference for management educators and is focused on practical teaching ideas and demonstrations, so I am looking forward to seeing and exploring some new teaching ideas. I am set to give a 30 minute session entitled ‘Flying High in Innovation Space: Exploring innovation opportunities’. June looks set to be a month with lots of travel, but I am looking forward to the adventures and the development of my teaching and research practices.
Worcester Business Start-Up Fair
This evening was the 2nd annual Worcester Business Start-Up Fair, held at the University of Worcester Riverside building. The event gave the opportunity for new businesses to present to the public and other businesses and entrepreneurs. It was great to see many of those presenting were either current Worcester students or recent alumni. In between free pizza and drinks the entrepreneurs had the chance to pitch their ideas and the attendees had the opportunity to vote for the best business concept and the best presentation. It was interesting to hear so many interesting and novel ideas, hear the pitches and talk to some of the regions new entrepreneurs and serial entrepreneurs. Can you spot me in a red checkered shirt in the photos?
Magritte – Brussels Airlines Belgium Icons
Today I got to fly on the Brussels Airlines (SN) René Magritte livery plane. This means in my box ticking world, I have now ticked off 50% of Brussels interesting livery A320s. Having flown on the Trident (Belgium Red Devil’s) and Magritte planes.
Only 2 more to tick off now!
Finally, I have found a great Russian Beer
After several weeks of searching I have found a really nice Russian beer. Generally, I have found Russian beers to be very rich and heavy similar to Czech beer. I am not a fan of such beers, I don’t find them easy to drink. But finally, after picking a random beer on sale in the supermarket I have found…….
Сибирская корона: Полярный белый эль, roughly translated as Siberian Crown: Polar white ale. Even the name sounds good, and it has a wolf on the label. It tastes of dark wheat and molasses with a hint/kick of citrus.
British Council UK-China Funding
This week we found out that we had been successful in securing funding from the British Council’s UK-China Enhancing Graduate Employability and Entrepreneurship fund. I am the lead and principle researchers for the project, which will be a collaborative project between the University of Worcester and Beijing Foreign Studies University. The project will interview 10 UK and 10 Chinese entrepreneurs to make video case studies and innovative teaching material. The case studies will focus on innovation and the business models developed by UK and Chinese entrepreneurs, as well as the differences in business culture. Interviews for research will also be conducted with the entrepreneur’s to support comparative entrepreneurship research.
Myanmar
One of the great things being based in China is the opportunity to explore the countries around. This summer it was time to explore Myanmar. It was possible to get a direct Air China flight to Yangon from Beijing and a flight from Yangon back to Beijing via Kunming to return. Two weeks to explore Myanmar offered a fantastic opportunity to visit many amazing places.
We started with half a night in Yangon before getting a flight to Mandalay for our first full day. Visiting the Yangon domestic terminal was a fascinating experience. The building was an old colonial building where the bags were checked in by hand and ticket details stamped by hand. During the course of the two weeks we took numerous flights between destinations and whilst the airport processes where relatively primitive, the planes themselves often ATR 72’s were clean, reliable and efficient. They often ran like buses, landing, getting bags and passages off and then getting bags and passages on again and then off again in 20 minutes.
Whilst in Mandalay we visited the Kuthodaw Pagoda, Shwenandaw Monastery, U Bein Bridge and many of the pagodas on Mandalay Hill. The next stop on our trip was Peik Chin Myaung Cave on the way to Pyin Oo Lwin. Pyin Oo Lwin was much cooler as it is located at an altitude of 1,070 meters. The town because the summer capital for British Burma with the Governors summer estate and a large national garden (Kandawgyi) located there. After some time exploring in cooler temperatures, we took the train to Hsipaw in the Shan state. On the way the train broke down for a couple of hours just before the Goteik viaduct, this allowed us to walk across the viaduct by foot and look at the structure in more detail. It is an impressive structure, which is starting to look pretty dated.
Goteik viaduct
Hand Stamped Tickets
Kandawgyi National Garden
After Hsipaw we went to Monywa, Bagan and the Inle Lakes. Bagan is often indicated as one of the highlights on a trip to Myanmar and it didn’t disappoint. During the 11th and 13th centuries, over 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were constructed in the Bagan plains, of which there are now over 2,000 to explore. It is amazing to be able to explore them at your own pace. As with much of Myanmar it is possible to explore at your own pace and is not overpopulated with tourists. This meant that often we had the temples and pagodas to ourselves, particularly when exploring smaller ones. The Inle Lakes were also very impressive to see the floating villages and the fishermen paddling with an oar using their leg to hold it. The scenery around the lakes was also beautiful.
Bagan
Friendly Monkeys
Inle Lakes
Finally, we had some time back in Yangon to explore the Shwedagon Pagoda and the city. The size of the Shwedagon Pagoda is very impressive. Although Yangon itself is neither the most peaceful nor beautiful city. After such a busy few days we used the final day to try and relax and not race around the city. The trip to Myanmar was fantastic and it was a great place to visit. The sights were not busy compared to Cambodia or Thailand and the sights and locals were very relaxed. The food was also very nice with interesting curries and food full of taste and spice. There was so much to do, it is not possible to describe it all.
Beijing Foreign Studies University
I am delighted to start a visiting faculty position at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) next semester. In my first semester I will be teaching Entrepreneurship and Innovation. I will be teaching within the International Business School and am very excited to be starting this role. The school has a very strong reputation and I am looking forward to teaching some fantastic students and collaborating with their great faculty.
Manilla – Not a city for a relaxing break
Having just spent 5 days in Manilla for a short break I can confirm it is a long way from my favourite city. Whilst, the city has a depth of culture and history encompassing periods of colonization by the Spanish, British and Americans the city is very slow and busy. The city has a lot of contrasts from glitzy shopping centres, skyscrapers, pristine golf courses to rampant poverty and slumps. The ‘modern luxury’ the city has is somewhat faceless and boring, with lots of security all around. The traffic in the city is probably the worst I have ever seen, even coming from Beijing the traffic seemed bad. Plus the public transport is very limited and overcrowded.
One day we escaped the city and went to the Taal Volcano, which was an interesting sight. The volcano is in the middle of a lake, so it requires a boat to the volcano and then a dusty walk up to the summit. Once back in Manilla we transferred our exploration to the old city and the seafront. The seafront is not particularly pretty by it does have a fantastic sunset. The old city does have more history and culture than the new centre and a visit to Fort Santiago was well worthwhile. The cathedral and Plaza de Roma were picturesque and sitting in the Plaza de Roma in front of the cathedral you could forgot you are in Southeast Asia. However, whilst Manilla has lots of culture and history if you are willing to look, it is not a city I would rush back to.
Plaza de Roma
Journey to Taal Volcano
Fort Santiago
EU Funding for EBBD Project
The wait is finally over to hear the outcome of an Erasmus+ bid submitted to the EU in April, and I was delighted to find out that the bid was successful. I worked on, and submitted the bid as the lead researcher from the University of Worcester, alongside 8 other education providers, spread across 7 EU countries. The bid received €328,690 funding to develop the European Business Baccalaureate Diploma (EBBD), which is a qualification designed to develop European business skills and competencies for students seeking University admission.
My role in the project is centered on reviewing and evaluating the EBBD and the accreditation process of schools offering the award. The funding will allow myself to visit and work closely with partner institutions and use my pedagogic knowledge to support the development of the EBBD, which I am looking forward to.
Two Cats, Customs and 6,000 Miles across the Globe
After much planning the time had arrived when the trip from Washington DC to Beijing with two cats in tow had to be made. The cats formed part of a large amount of luggage that needed to be checked in (6 suitcases, 1 box and two cats in carriers in total).
Cats and Luggage Ready to Go
Smoggy at Dulles
Luckily, the cats could travel as checked baggage, rather than cargo and did not need to be quarantined. However, travelling through two airports, being handled numerous times and then sitting on a plane for 14 hours was still an adventure for one cat and one kitten. The cats adventure included having to be taken out of the carriers at airport so their carries could be x-rayed, then once we reached Beijing the cats had to be removed again, to be checked and photographed before being admitted into the country. Once we arrived the cats settled down from their adventure and seemed to be enjoying their new light and airy home.
Robin Bell 