BU Research Blog

During the Global Festival of Learning China, BU staff members Rebecca Hindley, Parissa Gilani and Elvira Bolat from the Faculty of Management, and Vianna Renaud from the Faculty of Media and Communication were appointed Entrepreneurial Mentors for the Academy of Innovation and Sustainable Development at Beijing Normal University Zhuhai.

Dr. Lucy Lu, the Associate Dean of Global Engagement for the Faculty of Management, who has led on the project, knows the background of the links between the two institutions. The Beijing Normal University Zhuhai (BNUZ) has been a long-standing collaboration partner of BU for more than 10 years through programme cooperation, staff mobility and joint research. The recent Festival of Learning held in BNUZ with more than 80 staff and over 300 students from both BU and BNUZ further enhanced knowledge exchange, staff and students as well as research collaborations between the two institutions.

The Academy for Innovation and Sustainable Development was established by Beijing Normal University Zhuhai as part of the university vision to developing future global entrepreneurs and innovative talent. The Academy will work closely with both government and industry at regional, national and international levels to create an innovation space for co-creation and co-developing innovation and entrepreneurial programmes. The Academy also aims to enhance the employability of students at BNUZ through joint research with international partners, Executive Development and training, and entrepreneurial camp / exchange programmes.

The appointment of BU staff as Entrepreneurial Mentors within the AISD is part of the BU China Innovation Hub initiative designed and developed by Dr Lucy Lu, Principal Investigator of the CIH.  Developing future talent and full-fledged global leaders whilst enhancing students’ employability is also a key priority of Global BU. Therefore it is expected that the Entrepreneurial Mentors from BU will help to promote BU’s knowledge and expertise in China and enhance the global mobility and employability of BU students through potential collaborations with the ASID.

Rebecca Hindley, Lecturer in Human Resource Management, Faculty of Management

“The BU Global Festival of Learning trip to China was a fascinating, illuminating and inspiring experience. I particularly enjoyed learning how BNUZ incorporate entrepreneurial education into their curricula and hearing about the support provided for student startups and therefore, was humbled and honoured to be selected as an entrepreneurial mentor.

Since our visit I have been in contact with BNUZ HRM lecturers to explore how our employability radar can be adopted to underpin BNUZ students’ professional development activities and am looking forward to future collaboration between our two institutions.”

Parisa Gilani, Lecturer in HR and Organisational Behaviour, Faculty of Management

“I am honoured to have been invited to become an Entrepreneurial Mentor for the new and exciting Innovation Academy at Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai. I have been very lucky with the supportive and inspiring mentors I’ve had throughout my own career so far, and I only hope that this role will help me to support others in the same way. During our stay in Zhuhai I was impressed by the entrepreneurial spirit of many of the students, and I not only look forward to working with them, but also learning from them!”

Dr Elvira Bolat, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, Faculty of Management

“I am truly honoured to be appointed as Entrepreneurial Mentor. I am passionate about applied business and marketing education and this is what BU is known for, hence, bringing in together my knowledge and passion will help me to mentor young generation of start-up owners and ideas’ generators – changelers who wants to make difference via technological transformations and consumer demand-driven solutions. BUNZ is an amazing place located in this border where Western and Asian mindsets meet and work collectively to benefit all. Under the leadership of Professor Li Hua we will be able to support BU, BUNZ and other young global talent in bring their visions to live, executing their business plans and framing propositions in ways that will attract investments and interest of the markets.”

Vianna Renaud, Placement Development Advisor, Faculty of Media and Communication

“Our time at BUNZ was both enlightening and inspiring given the incredible range of potential collaboration between the two institutions. After presenting to both BU and BUNZ students on the necessity of adaptability for today’s global graduates, it became clear that both groups of students can greatly learn from each other. I am so very pleased and honoured to have been chosen to represent BU in this wonderful project. I look forward to working with my fellow Entrepreneurial Mentors in helping mentor young talent and to raise the awareness of Eastern and Western expectations regarding employability and entrepreneurship. As I’ve been in contact with BUNZ staff since our visit, all I can say is let the discussions and fun begin!”