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