QMYOU Alumni Magazine Issue 82 | Page 8

New Family Business degrees to be launched at QMU T wo new postgraduate study programmes in Family Business have just been announced for 2016. The courses are part of a new suite of MBA and MSc programmes in the areas of business, tourism, hospitality and events management. Following five years of industry consultation with organisations such as Scottish Family Business Association, Family Business United and a range of family- run Scottish businesses, the University has developed a new MSc International Management & Leadership with Family & Smaller Enterprise (subject to validation) and a new MBA Family & Smaller Enterprise (subject to validation), to meet a growing demand. The two specialist programmes will offer experienced business professionals, as well as recent business graduates and those who are returning to the family business after studying for an unrelated degree, greater insight into the value, practice and function of family businesses. Topics will include family business succession, governance, behavioural finance and risk. In 2014, a major research project involving QMU’s business experts revealed how family businesses and SMEs in Scotland have the potential to boost the country’s annual economy by up to £1.23 billion. “We will continue to engage and work with Scotland’s SME and family business policy makers and practitioners to explore ways of improving the growth and sustainability of this vital sector. “Our research suggests that family businesses are crying out for the right kind of support to help them succeed across the generations.  If we want to change thinking and practice and improve business succession across these businesses, we need an integrated approach to learning, research and influencing policy.” Commenting on the planned Family Business programmes at QMU, Martin Stepek, Chief Executive of Scottish Family Business Association, said: “The Scottish Family Business Association has worked collaboratively with QMU for many The study, which also involved government bodies, businesses years and we’ve found the University to be proactive and and professional advisers, indicates that Scotland needs to innovative in its explorations of family businesses.  QMU do more to build and protect this important sector. There is an has continued to develop and grow its range and depth opportunity for Scotland to lead America and parts of Europe in of research, learning and teaching, and we’re all the providing the knowledge, skills and support needed to become a beneficiaries of this work. world-wide centre of excellence. “The Scottish Family Business Association is highly In Scotland, SMEs account for 99.3% of all private sector supportive of plans at QMU to review their MBA and MSc enterprises and 63% of these are family businesses. programmes with a plan to develop a family business Dr Claire Seaman, Reader in Enterprise and Family Business at strand within each postgraduate path.  We’re prepared to QMU, said: “After several years of industry consultation, we’re very help assist with these plans and future developments by pleased to have reached this milestone in the development of our providing practical support.” new MSc and MBA in Family Business Management. Paul Andrews, Founder and Managing Direct of Family Business United, added: “Many of Scotland’s businesses are family owned and managed, and make a significant contribution to the Scottish economy. 10 QMYOU / Sustainable Business