The Kemmy Business School at UL is hosting this year’s EFMD (European Foundation for Management Development) Conference on Taught Masters Programmes entited 'Masters Programmes: Do They Deliver.  This is the 3rd year of this prestigious international conference, which has previously been held in Paris and Barcelona. The conference has attracted  over 70 delegates from 18 countries to the University of Limerick this week, embracing a mix of academics, programme leaders and administrators.

There has been significant growth in the number of taught Masters programmes in Business Schools in recent years.  This is partly a function of the economic crisis and the era of austerity that has limited the opportunities for undergraduate degree holders, many of whom choose to pursue further studies in the business and economic fields.
Many programmes are in specialised niche areas such as some recently introduced in the Kemmy Business School in areas of Taxation, Risk Management and Insurance, and Economic Analysis. 

This international conference is focussed on the extent to which these programmes are suitably geared to the needs of the market as well as providing  meaningful “added value” for Masters graduates in both personal and career terms.

The Conference is organised along highly interactive lines and delegates will engage in debate on topics as diverse as blended learning, the entrepreneurship/research interface and managing student expectations to the corporate perspective on Masters programme trends and the role of sustainability in Graduate programmes.
A unique feature of this year’s conference is the inclusion of a panel discussion from
leading employers – PwC, Aon International and Google – with a focus on the ideal attributes of 21st Century Masters graduates.  A representative from Microsoft will present the latest technological developments that are changing the face of third level educational delivery worldwide.

Professor Donal Dineen, Co-Chair of the Conference, and former Dean of the Kemmy Business School, commented that “This is a unique opportunity to learn of best practice in international business schools and to take stock of how  Business Masters programmes can best be designed to deliver on the expectations of students and employers alike, while acknowledging wider societal obligations”.

Dr. Philip O’Regan, Dean of the Kemmy Business School, noted: “The interaction between industry experts and academics that this conference offers, provide a unique opportunity to assess the increasing significance of masters programmes in a new economic environment.”