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New innovation and leadership post will forge links with industry and lead to new collaborations

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New post will create more opportunities for partnerships and students

Professor Amir Sharif, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Management, Law and Social Sciences

The University of Bradford will cement its position as a global leader in innovation and leadership thanks to a new fully funded two-year appointment by leading Indian corporates.

The post of Associate Professor in Innovation and Leadership is being funded by Fifth Quadrant Consulting Ltd and the Delhi-based BeOne Foundation, which works with businesses in India to improve efficiency and the wellbeing of their employees.

Associate Dean (International and Accreditations) in the Faculty of Management, Law and Social Sciences, Professor Amir Sharif said: “We are delighted to be able to confirm this appointment, in support of the growth of our international and business links, as a key aspect of our school of management and institutional strategy. This will allow us to develop and grow entrepreneurship-based relationships in South Asia and build important community links transnationally.”

The research post will be based within the University’s award-winning School of Management - part of an elite group of business schools worldwide with a triple-crown of accreditations from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS - to address areas of leadership and innovation.

The University will benefit from an increased profile, particularly in India and sub-continent region, where many businesses are in the process of modernising. Students in particular will be able to take advantage of a range of new learning approaches, regional insights, develop important skills and gain knowledge through a new raft of educational content and context.

It is intended that the new post will also create research opportunities and collaboration with businesses, identify new potential corporate sponsors, build consultancy projects and make funding bids to various research councils, while at the same time promoting the University’s School of Management and other Faculties at the University of Bradford.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Zahir Irani said: “This appointment is evidence that we are already fulfilling our strategic goals to meaningfully engage with business while at the same time offering students more opportunities to both learn from and engage with companies large and small across the world. This approach supports our objective to expose all our students to a research enriched, practice informed, intellectually challenging and internationally relevant curriculum. We’re grateful for the support of  Fifth Quadrant Consulting Ltd and the BeOne Foundation and we are looking forward to the benefits this partnership will bring.”

The new position will be taken up in early 2021. The BeOne Associate Professor in Leadership and Innovation will play an active role in contributing to executive education opportunities and content, fostering collaborations and philanthropic partnerships with international businesses and developing consulting models for growth strategies in organisations. 

The BeOne Foundation for Transformational Leadership, a Delhi-based philanthropic foundation, has a strategic focus on developing the skill set of the next generation of entrepreneurs. Working with family businesses, startups and high potential individuals, it specialises in improving the needs of organisations.