Academic Leaders Discuss How to Make Today’s Challenges Tomorrow’s Opportunities. TAMPA, Fla. (December 17, 2008) – The challenges facing business school leaders have never been more complex, and the ability to generate or drive fresh ideas will determine the future success for many institutions. Designed exclusively for business school leadership, the AACSB International Deans Conference – to be held February 4-6, 2009 in San Francisco, California – will address several important factors facing management education leaders today. “Given the state of our economic times, this year’s conference will be particularly important,” said Richard Cosier, conference chair, AACSB International chairman of the board, and dean and Leeds Professor of Management, at Purdue University School of Management and Krannert Graduate School of Management. “By combining the newest advancements in management education with best practices from the past, the Deans Conference will provide the much needed guidance as to what business school leaders must do to weather the current storm.” As many as 400 business school deans, administrators, and heads of higher education business units are expected to attend the conference, which will feature speakers such as:     • Edward A. Snyder, dean and George Pratt Shultz professor         of economics at the University of Chicago, Booth School         of Business;     •  Hal Varian, chief economist of Google, Inc.;     •  Laura Goodwin, vice president of The Osborne Group, and     •  Pankaj Ghemawat, Anselmo Rubiralta professor of global         strategy at IESE Business School. Session topics will range from the globalization of management education, to creating a balanced and innovative portfolio of fundraising techniques. Varian, best-selling author and leading economic strategist, will speak on “Managing Knowledge Workers at Google.” Based on his recent experiences, Varian will discuss how Google’s philosophy and strategic focus have integrated into an overarching culture of productivity, creativity, camaraderie and success. Goodwin, vice president of the Osborne Group, Inc., will speak on “Weathering the Storm: Best and Next Fund Development Practices in a Turbulent Economy.” In this interactive session, Goodwin will identify proven strategies and fundamental fundraising principles of the most successful institutions, and will highlight how schools can find, retain and increase giving among their leadership and major donor communities. As the opening plenary speaker, Snyder will address “How Business Schools Differ from Consulting Firms and Corporations on their Global Strategy and Outcomes”. In his presentation Snyder will identify possible constraints on business schools and their objectives, and how these constraints have limited the response to business school globalization. Additionally Ghemawat will discuss “The Globalization of Business Education: Through the Lens of Semi-globalization”. Based on his award-winning book Redefining Global Strategy, Dr. Ghemawat will share valuable insight and recommendations for organizations operating in a semi-globalized world. Other topics of discussion at the Deans Conference will be items such as integrating sustainability into the curriculum, addressing the business faculty shortage, and the introduction of the new AACSB Globalization Task Force. More broadly, other sessions will explore the role of AACSB accreditation in providing effective leadership for management programs, business students and academic ethics, business school succession planning, and establishing global alliances and collaboration programs. For complete information or session descriptions for the 2009 AACSB International Deans Conference please visit the Conferences & Seminars section of the AACSB International website at http://www.aacsb.edu/conferences/events/conferences/dc-feb-09-desc.asp.
	MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS   What:  AACSB International Deans Conference   When:  February 4-6, 2009   Where: The Westin St. Francis              San Francisco, California, USA  Thursday, February 5   Plenary I:     How Business Schools Differ from   Consulting Firms and Corporations on their   Global Strategy and Outcomes        Edward A. Snyder        Dean and George Pratt Schultz Professor of Economics        Booth School of Business        The University of Chicago     (8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.)   Plenary II:     Weathering the Storm: Best and Next Fund   Development Practices in a Turbulent   Economy     Laura Goodwin       Vice President       The Osborne Group, Inc.           (12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.)   Plenary III:     The Globalization of Business Education:   Through the Lens of Semi-globalization     Pankaj Ghemawat       Anselmo Rubiralta Professor of Global Strategy       IESE Business School    (4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.)   Plenary IV:     The Globalization of Business Education:      Hal Varian       Chief Economist       Google, Inc.          (8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.)
	MEDIA REQUESTS AND CREDENTIALS   AACSB International invites members of the     professional media to cover the Plenary Speaker   sessions or other portions of the conference.   For more information or media credentials for   the conference, please contact Amy Ponzillo,   public relations coordinator, at 813-367-5207 or   mediarelations@aacsb.edu.
About AACSB International AACSB International is an association of more than 1,100 educational institutions, business and other organizations in 70 countries that are dedicated to the advancement of management education worldwide. In addition to service as the premier accreditation body for institutions offering undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees in business and accounting, the association also conducts a wide array of conferences and seminar programs at various location around the world. Through BestBizSchools.com, AACSB provides a global resource center for prospective business students. www.aacsb.edu ###