01/09/07
Kingston University is well placed to meet the challenges of the rapidly-developing business education sector, according to the latest addition to its senior management team. Professor Jean-Noël Ezingeard, who has just taken up his post as the new Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law, said the University’s emphasis on equipping students with a combination of applicable knowledge and practical skills meant it was perfectly poised to sustain a strong track record in graduate employability. Internationalising education is another subject close to Professor Ezingeard’s heart and he is keen to see Kingston consolidate its position in the global marketplace.
Professor Ezingeard’s previous position was at Henley Management College where he was Academic Dean and Professor of Processes and Systems Management. He believes his less conventional route into business education – he hails from an engineering and information systems background rather than business management – will complement the University’s approach to teaching and research. “Organisations that thrive are those that don’t just have a good technical base but genuinely understand how to manage processes, people and technology,†he said. “That is why I find the research ethos at Kingston particularly refreshing – it’s based on a practical premise of producing rigorous knowledge that is useable rather than concentrating predominantly on academic arguments.â€
Kingston’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Scott said the University would benefit enormously from Professor Ezingeard’s aptitude for academic leadership and high-quality research. “The Faculty is at a key stage in its development, ready to make substantial advances in international expansion, research and business development and Jean-Noël possesses the perfect profile to take this forward,†he added.