Our programme of events is a great way to reunite with old friends, catch up with former lecturers and see first hand how Aston has changed. We have a variety of reunions and lectures for you to attend, and you can even book your tickets online.
And remember - if you have an idea for an event or reunion, please get in touch!
The commercial and environmental benefits of PSSs are compelling and well documented (Rolls-Royce earning over 50% of their revenue from services is cited to exhaustion). The opportunities are immense (three quarters of wealth world-wide is now created through performing services) and so politically PSSs are seen as key to industrial success in the 21st Century.
Adoption of PSS is frustratingly slow in mainstream manufacturing. Superficially the concepts find appeal but fail to gain traction, as the potential implications to a business are complex. As a research community we need to foster a better understanding of this concept, helping to visualize the potential impact upon businesses and society, and identifying pathways for the accelerated adoption of
servitization.
Our intention is that the Spring Servitization Conference should play a key role in this process. We particularly will bring attention to the strategic issues associated with operationalizing the concept of servitization by considering how it transforms customer and partner relationships in the wider enterprise that delivering Product-Service System.
SSC 2013 will take place on the 20th & 21st May 2013 at Aston University. There will be a strong emphasis on industrial relevance and senior executives from leading manufacturers who share a passion for servitization in enterprise wide contexts will be attending.
Business Breakfast insight.
Thursday 13 June 7:45-10:00am
Location: Aston Business School, Aston Triangle, B4 7ET.
In this Aston MBA event, Dr Malcolm Clews will discuss the global strategic issues facing organisations today and highlight how managers must become adaptive leaders in order to maximize on new market opportunities.
The breakfast will discuss complexity theory and its implications for future management of companies.The long-term future is unpredictable and Malcolm will look at how we structure and operate our companies in order to survive and sustain competitive advantage over our rivals.
The speaker:
Dr Malcolm Clews is a Chartered Engineer with a Master’s degree in Engineering Geology and a Doctorate in Strategic Decision Theory. Malcolm has more than 45 years of international strategic experience in a variety of sectors including management, corporate acquisitions and development including the flotation of companies on the London, New York, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth stock exchanges
Agenda
7:45-8:15am - Breakfast and networking
8:15-9:00am - Managing strategy in uncertain times
9:00-9:30am - The Aston MBA
9:30-10:00am - Networking
25th – 26th June 2013 at Lakeside Conference Centre, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
The ESRC capacity building clusters have been focusing on this issue for nearly 5 years since 2008 and are now approaching the summits of their achievements as CASE, KTP, Voucher and Placement awards begin to finish or are near to finishing.
The purpose of this conference is to present work about the successes of university – industry collaboration in these clusters and other similar research. We welcome academic supervisors, company supervisors, KTP Associates, and CASE award students to this event.
Subjects covered by this conference are:
- Social enterprise and social enterprises
- Strengthening civil society: promoting active citizenship and community empowerment
- Creative industries and capitalising on creativity
- Sport leisure and tourism
- Business transformation
- Economic impact of the third sector
- Retailing and the retail industry
The conference will run over 2 days – starting with an informal dinner in the evening of the 25th June followed by keynote speakers, themed sessions and presentations on 26th June.
Topics will cover, but will not be limited to:
- Public, private or third sector insights
- Large, medium & small organisations
- Cluster building management
- Intellectual property rights
- University-industry collaboration
- Novel funding mechanisms
- Cross sector research projects
- Impact creation on practice
- Getting high quality research papers
- Management of research projects
- Setting research expectations
- Delivering successful CASE awards
- Completing successful KTP awards
- Research placements in Industry
- Staff consulting and exec. education
- Cross-disciplinary methodologies
- Impact creation on policy
- University spin-out companies
Early bird registration 31st May 2013 (+20% extra after this date).
General enquiries about this conference can be made to Jill Forrest at erebus@aston.ac.uk.
For more information visit the website
The evening is an opportunity for you to network with Aston’s most successful and aspiring graduates, learn more about how Aston can support you, and enjoy a memorable evening at one of London’s landmark venues.
The Dorchester occupies the most prestigious acre and a half of real estate in the world, in the heart of Mayfair overlooking the glorious green expanse of Hyde Park. The Dorchester embodies the highest service values whilst its design and character exude 1930s glamour with a contemporary edge.
Guest Speaker
We are delighted to announce our guest speaker is internationally successful entrepreneur Jurek Piasecki.
Jurek graduated from Aston in 1967 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is the former Chairman and Chief Executive of the jewellery chain Goldsmiths Group and current owner and Managing Director of Nuval, an import and distribution company of unique, luxury watches and jewellery brands from around the world.
We will also hear from Mark Hart, Professor of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Programme Director
and Academic Lead of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, and Deputy Director at the Enterprise Research Centre (ERC).
Event details
Date:
Thursday, 27 June 2013
Venue:
The Dorchester, Park Lane, Mayfair, London, W1K
Timings:
Registration and pre-dinner drinks from 7pm
3 course seated dinner 8pm
Approximate conclusion of evening 11pm
Cost: £60 per person (ticket price will include pre-dinner drinks and a 3 course seated dinner with wine)
We hope you will be able to join Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Julia King and fellow alumni for an enjoyable evening.
To secure your place at this prestigious event please complete the online registration form followed by the payment form. We do welcome guests, so if there is anyone you would like to accompany you to the dinner please also register them at time of booking.
Should you need hotel accommodation whilst in London, please click on the link to view details of hotels near to the dinner venue, The Dorchester Hotel.
Guests who attended last year's Alumni dinner were happy to provide testimonials of the successful event:
Vincenzo Garzya, an MBA graduate and Project Manager at GlaxoSmithKline said:
"The night was delightful, with the opportunity to meet members of the great Aston community and the chance to network with new members to strengthen our bonds."
Jinyan Ji, an MSc Finance and Investments graduate and Market Risk Manager at Barclays also commented:
“It was great to hear exciting news of Aston University and meet wonderful alumni during the event, which reminded me of the passion and aspiration I had as a university student."
Should you have any queries please contact Becky Saxon